How and how much is spirituality discussed in palliative care consultations for advanced cancer patients with and without a question prompt list?

Abstract

Objective: Patients want to discuss spirituality more with their doctors but feel disempowered. Question prompt lists (QPLs) assist conversations. This study assessed the impact of a QPL on spirituality discussions in Palliative Care (PC).

Methods: This was a sub-study of a trial in which PC patients were randomised to either receive a QPL prior to a consultation or not, to see whether its provision influenced advanced cancer patients'/caregivers' questions and discussion of topics relevant to end-of-life care during consultations with a PC physician. Consultations were recorded and transcribed. Transcriptions were analysed to examine the frequency and content of spirituality discussions. We conducted logistic regression to investigate the impact of the QPL and other predictors.

Results: 174 patients participated. Spirituality was discussed in half the consultations. Patients receiving a QPL discussed spirituality 1.38 times more than controls. This finding did not reach statistical significance. First PC consultation and being asked about their concerns by the doctor were significant predictors of a spiritual discussion.

Conclusion: Patients are more likely to discuss spirituality in their first PC consultation, and when their doctor asks them about their concerns.

Practice implications: Doctors caring for patients at the end of life should routinely raise spiritual issues.

Keywords: Communication; Palliative care; Physician-patient relations; Question prompt list; Spirituality.