The Spiritual Needs Among Families of Critically Ill in Intensive Care Unit at Sisaket Hospital

Abstract

Background: spiritual health is one aspect of health dimension, comprising sources of such as meaning, hope support, and connectedness that help people to cope with a burden or difficulty in their life. Family members of critically ill patients are also in psychological crisis with high levels of fear and anxiety in such urgent medical care เท intensive care unit. The medical care in this emergency situation addressed only on physical health problems, thus health care practionner may unintentionally overlook the mental and spiritual dimensions of health.
Objective: To describe spiritual needs of critically ill patients families in In tensive Care Unit at Sisaket hospital.
Setting: Intensive Care Unit, Sisaket hospital
Design: Descriptive Study
Method: This study described spiritual needs among families of critically ill patients. One-hundred family members of critically ill patients were purposively selected from the intensive care unit, Sisaket Hospital. Data were collected by usmg structured interview with a questionnaire developed from HighfielSs (1992) framework, and then analyzed by descriptive statistics. This study conducted during January 16th to June 24th, 2007.
Result: The study revealed high level of spiritual needs (possible range 0-100, mean 74.35, SD 9.95). Needs for meaning, purpose in life and hope were described with high scores (possible range 0-26, mean 20.92, SD 3.03 and possible range 0-8, mean 7.66, SD 0.90, respectively). Needs for relationship with others and other supremacy had medium score (possible range 0-66, mean 45.77, SD 7.89). The first three ranks of spiritual needs were; 1) receiving love, care, and friendliness from family/ friends (100%), and praying the most respected for peaceful death along with good experience after death (100%). 2) informing the patient! expressing their willingness of love and care through conversation hold, gentle touch, taking care and assisting the patient for suffer and pain relief (99%). 3) Positive thinking, and doing no harm for themselves and others (97%),
Conclusion: Among the spiritual needs among families of critically ill patients; the need for meaning and purpose in life, and the need for hope had a high scores and the need for relationships with others and other supremacy had medium score. Results suggested an approach for nurses in providing care that consists of spiritual aspects to families of critically ณ patients, assisting the patient for suffer and pain relief (99%). 3) Positive thinking, and doing no harm for themselves and others (97%).
Key words: Spirituality, Spiritual needs, Holistic care, Critically ill