IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i1p538-d717295.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluation of a Spiritual History with Elderly Multi-Morbid Patients in General Practice—A Mixed-Methods Study within the Project HoPES3

Author

Listed:
  • Ruth Mächler

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Professorship for Spiritual Care and Psychosomatic Health, Technical University of Munich, Langerstr. 3, 81675 Munich, Germany
    Ruth Mächler (R.M.) is also the guarantor for the integrity of the data on which the article is based.)

  • Noemi Sturm

    (Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Eckhard Frick

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Professorship for Spiritual Care and Psychosomatic Health, Technical University of Munich, Langerstr. 3, 81675 Munich, Germany)

  • Friederike Schalhorn

    (Institute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany)

  • Regina Stolz

    (Institute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany)

  • Jan Valentini

    (Institute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany)

  • Johannes Krisam

    (Institute of Medical Biometry, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Cornelia Straßner

    (Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

Abstract

Background: The “Holistic Care Program for Elderly Patients to Integrate Spiritual Needs, Social Activity and Self-Care into Disease Management in Primary Care” (HoPES3) examines the implementation of a spiritual history (SH) as part of a multifaceted intervention in German general practices. While the effectiveness of the interventions was evaluated in a cluster-randomized trial, this article investigates the patients’ views concerning the acceptability of the SH and its effects. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted in which 133 patients of the intervention group filled in a standardized questionnaire after the intervention. Later, 29 of these patients took part in qualitative semi-standardized interviews. Results: According to the survey, 63% ( n = 77) of patients found the SH helpful. In the interviews, however, many indicated that they either kept the conversation brief or declined the offer to talk about spirituality. Contents of longer conversations referred to difficult life events, personal sources of strength, and experiences with religious institutions. Many patients who had a longer conversation about spirituality reported that their relationship with their general practitioner (GP) had improved. Almost all patients recommended integrating a personal conversation of this kind into primary care. Conclusions: The SH seems to be a possible ‘door opener’ for a trusting doctor-patient relationship, which can then be built upon.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruth Mächler & Noemi Sturm & Eckhard Frick & Friederike Schalhorn & Regina Stolz & Jan Valentini & Johannes Krisam & Cornelia Straßner, 2022. "Evaluation of a Spiritual History with Elderly Multi-Morbid Patients in General Practice—A Mixed-Methods Study within the Project HoPES3," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:1:p:538-:d:717295
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/538/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/538/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Coyle, Lindsay-Ann & Atkinson, Sarah, 2018. "Imagined futures in living with multiple conditions: Positivity, relationality and hopelessness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 53-60.
    2. André Hajek & Benedikt Kretzler & Hans-Helmut König, 2020. "Multimorbidity, Loneliness, and Social Isolation. A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Carlos Seiça Cardoso & Filipe Prazeres & Beatriz Xavier & Bárbara Gomes, 2021. "Family Physicians’ Perspectives on Their Role in Palliative Care: A Double Focus Group in Portugal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tamara Rodríguez Quintana & Viviana Dávalos-Batallas & Ana-Magdalena Vargas-Martínez & Lucelly López & Patricia Bonilla-Sierra & María-de-las-Mercedes Lomas-Campos & Fatima Leon-Larios, 2021. "Implementation and Knowledge of the Clinical Practice Guide for Palliative Care in the Ecuadorian Primary Care Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Visser, Anja & de Jager Meezenbroek, Eltica C. & Garssen, Bert, 2018. "Does spirituality reduce the impact of somatic symptoms on distress in cancer patients? Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 57-66.
    3. Lee Smith & Jae Il Shin & San Lee & Jae Won Oh & Guillermo F López Sánchez & Karel Kostev & Louis Jacob & Mark A. Tully & Felipe Schuch & Daragh T. McDermott & Damiano Pizzol & Nicola Veronese & Jun, 2023. "The association of physical multimorbidity with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in England: A mediation analysis of influential factors," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(3), pages 523-531, May.
    4. André Hajek & Hans-Helmut König, 2022. "Climate Anxiety, Loneliness and Perceived Social Isolation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Xueqin Wang & Yiik Diew Wong & Kum Fai Yuen, 2021. "Rise of ‘Lonely’ Consumers in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Synthesised Review on Psychological, Commercial and Social Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-22, January.
    6. Juan Ribes & Jacinto González-Pachón, 2021. "Risk Attitude in Multicriteria Decision Analysis: A Compromise Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    7. André Hajek & Hans-Helmut König, 2021. "The Association between Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Loneliness, Perceived and Objective Social Isolation—Results of a Nationally Representative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.
    8. André Hajek & Benedikt Kretzler & Hans-Helmut König, 2021. "Informal Caregiving, Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:1:p:538-:d:717295. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.