Spiritual Needs of Polish Patients with Chronic Diseases

J Relig Health. 2015 Oct;54(5):1524-42. doi: 10.1007/s10943-014-9863-x.

Abstract

In a cross-sectional survey using standardized questionnaires such as the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ), we analyze unmet spiritual needs of 275 patients with chronic diseases from Catholic Poland. The factorial structure of SpNQ's Polish version is similar to the primary version and has good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.89). Here, not only Inner Peace needs and Giving/Generativity needs were of relevance, but also Religious Needs and Existential Needs. These needs were not significantly associated with life satisfaction, but with interpretations of illness. To address such unmet needs, multi-professional teams should care for patients' multifaceted needs.

MeSH terms

  • Catholicism / psychology
  • Chronic Disease / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poland
  • Religion and Medicine*
  • Spirituality*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires