Spiritual Needs and Perception of Quality of Care and Satisfaction With Care in Hematology/Medical Oncology Patients: A Multicultural Assessment

Abstract

Context: Assessment and response to patients' spiritual concerns are crucial components of high-quality supportive care. Better measures of spiritual needs across the cultural spectrum may help direct necessary interventions.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess spiritual needs in a racially/ethnically and religiously mixed sample of hematology and oncology outpatients and examine the association between spiritual needs and perception of quality of care and satisfaction with care.

Methods: This is an observational study of 727 racially/ethnically and religiously diverse outpatients. Spiritual needs were measured using a validated, 23-item questionnaire, the Spiritual Needs Assessment for Patients. Scales were administered in four languages.

Results: Forty-four percent were white, 13% Hispanic, 25% black, and 14% Asian. English was the primary language for 57%; 59% considered themselves "spiritual but not religious." At least one spiritual need was reported by 79%. Forty-eight percent were comfortable having their physician inquire about spiritual needs. Compared with English-speaking patients, Russian-speaking patients reported lower spiritual needs (P = 0.003). Patients who considered themselves "spiritual but not religious" (P = 0.006) reported a higher level of spiritual needs. Higher spiritual needs were associated with less satisfaction with care (P = 0.018) and lower perception of quality of care (P = 0.002).

Conclusion: Spiritual needs are common in an ethnically, religiously, and linguistically diverse cancer patient population but may differ by cultural background. High levels of spiritual need are associated with lower levels of satisfaction and diminished perception of quality of care. Training clinicians to address patients' spiritual concerns, with attention to cultural differences, may improve patients' experiences of care.

Keywords: Spirituality; quality of care; satisfaction with care; spiritual care; spiritual needs.