Where is God in my dying? A qualitative investigation of faith reflections among hospice patients in a secularized society

Death Stud. 2016 Nov-Dec;40(10):618-629. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2016.1200160. Epub 2016 Aug 25.

Abstract

Despite increased focus on the role of spiritual care in palliative care, there is limited knowledge about spirituality/religiosity among dying patients in secularized cultures such as Denmark. This study aims through semi-structured interviews with Danish hospice patients and participant observation to elucidate how hospice patients reflect and act upon their potential faith. The results demonstrate three dimensions of faith: (1) "Knowing" (cognition), (2) "doing" (praxis) and (3) "being" (meaning). The article concludes that most patients had a hesitant, but according to their situation, important faith although it was not something they knew much about, let alone discussed or practiced much.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Attitude to Death*
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Hospice Care / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Spirituality*
  • Terminally Ill / psychology*