Spirituality in Primary Palliative Care and Beyond: A 20-Year Longitudinal Qualitative Study of Interacting Factors Impacting Physicians' Spiritual Care Provision Over Time

Abstract

Context: Spiritual care (SC) is central to palliative care. However, a mismatch between patients' desire for SC and physicians' SC provision remains. The shortage of specialty-trained palliative physicians, necessitates that all physicians provide primary palliative care, including SC. Although several quantitative studies explore physicians' barriers to SC, few qualitative studies and no longitudinal studies exist.

Objective: To gain in-depth understanding of factors influencing physicians' ability to provide SC over time.

Methods: A 20-year longitudinal, individual interview study. In study year-1, we interviewed all residents in a USA primary care residency (full study-group) regarding SC beliefs, experiences and skills. The longitudinal study-group (PGY1 subgroup) was interviewed again in study-years 3, 11, and 20. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Four researchers analyzed transcripts using a grounded theory approach. IRB approval was obtained.

Results: We analyzed 66 interviews from 34 physicians. Physicians had diverse personal spiritual beliefs. Seven themes emerged from both groups (response rate 89%): patients' needs; practice setting; beliefs regarding physician's role; personal spiritual beliefs; SC training; life experiences (professional, personal); self-care and reflection. Longitudinal interviews revealed thematic evolution and interactions over 20-years: patients' needs and physicians' belief in whole-person care remained primary motivators; cross-cultural SC communication training diminished impact of personal spiritual beliefs and worries; life experiences enhanced SC skills; work environment helped or hindered SC provision; and spiritual self-care/reflection fostered patient-centered, compassionate SC.

Conclusion: Facilitating SC provision by nonpalliative care specialists is complex and may require both individual and systems level interventions fostering motivation, SC skill development, and supportive work environments.

Keywords: Spiritual care; end-of-life; palliative care; primary care physicians; primary palliative care.