Spiritual assessment and spiritual care offerings as a standard of care in pediatric oncology: A recommendation informed by a systematic review of the literature

Rhonda Robert; Pete Stavinoha; Barbara L Jones; Jacob Robinson; Kara Larson; Rachel Hicklen; Blake Smith; Kathleen Perko; Kendra Koch; Stephen Findley; Meaghann S Weaver

doi:10.1002/pbc.27764

Spiritual assessment and spiritual care offerings as a standard of care in pediatric oncology: A recommendation informed by a systematic review of the literature

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2019 Sep;66(9):e27764. doi: 10.1002/pbc.27764. Epub 2019 Apr 29.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
² Steve Hicks School of Social Work and Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
³ Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
⁴ Division of Spiritual Ministry and Chaplaincy, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
⁵ The Research Medical Library, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
⁶ Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
⁷ Bridges Palliative Care Program, Doernbecher, Children's Hospital, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
⁸ Department of Spiritual Care and Education, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

PMID: 31033210
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27764

Abstract

Children with cancer and their families experience shifts in spiritual wellness from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship or bereavement. An interdisciplinary team conducted a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research on spiritual assessments, interventions, and outcomes in childhood cancer following PRISMA guidelines using a PROSPERO registered protocol. Thirty-nine well-designed studies were included in the final analysis. The findings from this systematic review indicate the need for early spiritual assessment with offering of continued support for the spiritual functioning of children with cancer and their families as a standard of care.

Keywords: chaplain; palliative; pediatric; pediatric oncology; spiritual; spirituality.

Publication types

Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Child
Humans
Medical Oncology
Neoplasms / psychology*
Neoplasms / therapy*
Spirituality*