This study was conducted to provide a baseline data for hospice nurses to improve their practices for the spiritual wellbeing of their clients. Analysis of the spiritual wellbeing status of hospice patients was conducted from April 20 to June 20, 2002. A total of 59 cancer patients who admitted to hospice care units of one university medical center, and who have alert mental status were recruited for the study.
Paloutzian and Ellison (1982) spiritual wellbeing scale and Jungho Kang (1996) scale. which was modified for the cancer patients, were used as the study instruments. ANOVA and T-test were applied using SPSS win 10.0 for statistical analysis.
The results are as follows :
１. The mean spiritual wellbeing score of the hospice patients was 49.76 (SD±7.95). When it was converted into 4 point scale, the mean score for the spiritual wellbeing was 2.49. The mean religious wellbeing score was 24.17 (SD±5.56) and that of the existential wellbeing was 25.59 (SD±3.10).
２. The mean score for the total spiritual wellbeing was 52.54 (SD±8.12) for female, and 47.86 (SD±6.95) for male and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.305, p=.025).
３. In testing the spiritual wellbeing, there was significant difference according to the religion (F=28.931, p=.000).
４. In testing the religious wellbeing, the mean score was 22.77 (SD±5.35) for male, and 26.20 (SD±5.32) for female and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.430, p=.019).
５. In testing the religious wellbeing, there was significant difference according to the religion (F=37.522, p=.000). However, the religious wellbeing was not different according to the age, occupation, marital status and education level.
６. In testing the existential wellbeing, there was significant difference according to the religion (f=8.147, p=.000). However, mean score for the existential wellbeing was not significantly different according to sex, age, occupation, marital status and education level.
７. In testing the existential wellbeing, there was significant difference according to the level of vigor (F=3.662, p=.032), while no difference was observed in the existential wellbeing according to the general health status, degree of pain, and diagnosis.
From the results described above it can be concluded that :
To improve the spiritual wellbeing status of hospice patients, hospice nurses should identify spiritual needs of the patients according to the religion, gender and the level of vigor.
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