People of the Pentecostal faith are a grouping of Protestant Christians. Pentecostals are a growing group not only in the United States, but also worldwide. This article focuses on the Pentecostal beliefs and spiritual practices in North America and their implications in the clinical environment. As the population of this faith group continues to grow, palliative care clinicians will need a basic understanding of the values and practices of Pentecostal spirituality and its potential impact on goals-of-care discussions. This article offers 10 recommendations for clinicians to better understand and support Pentecostal patients and families. These overarching concepts of Pentecostal faith and practices are presented as a point of initiation for further exploration of the support that may be needed, and not as a comprehensive guide.
Keywords: Holy Spirit; Pentecostal faith; Pentecostalism; chaplain; crisis of faith; goals of care; miracles; patient–provider communication; spirituality; theology.