Vignettes as a novel research tool in spiritual care: A methods paper.

AIMS: To discuss the construction and use of vignettes as a novel approach in spiritual care research and education. DESIGN: Methods paper. METHODS: In this methods paper, the authors introduce the use of vignettes in spiritual care research and provide insight into the construction of vignettes. The vignette presented was part of a study of neurosurgical nurses' attitudes and responses to the spiritual needs of neuro-oncology patients. The development process, consisting of four steps, is explained in this paper. RESULTS: Using a vignette to explore nurses' attitudes towards spiritual care is an innovative way to understand what behaviours nurses consider appropriate in situations where the patient is seeking meaning and connection. Transparent description of the development process is crucial to ensure reproducibility. CONCLUSION: The use of theoretically constructed and validated vignettes in spiritual care research is new. Vignettes used in surveys have the potential to elicit nurses' responses to patients' search for meaning and connectedness. IMPLICATIONS: In order to investigate nurses' attitudes and behaviours towards patients' spiritual needs, carefully constructed and validated vignettes are valuable research tools. IMPACT: Vignettes have proven to be a valuable research tool in the social and health sciences. So far, their use as a survey instrument in spiritual care research has not been investigated. Therefore, this method paper introduces vignettes as a novel approach to spiritual care research. Our findings contribute to the further development of vignettes in nursing science, as there are similarities with case development and simulation training in nursing education. REPORTING METHOD: Reporting guideline is not applicable. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Spirituality is "sometimes just a hug": A conceptual analysis from the perspective of nursing students.

OBJECTIVES: Definitions of spirituality abound; however, the importance of context and need for better understanding within health-care practice has been emphasized. In particular, the understanding of spirituality for nurses has been shown to have an impact both professionally and personally. METHODS: This study used a conceptual analysis to explore the understanding of spirituality by German-speaking nurses in an educational context. RESULTS: A total of 91 nursing students (83.5% female, 16.5% male) took the spiritual care course between January 2022 and January 2023. The majority of participants (n = 63, 69.6%) were in the 26- to 40-year age bracket, 50 (54.9%) identified themselves as Christian, 15 (16.5%) chose other, 12 (13.2%) atheist, 6 (6.6%) humanist or agnostic, and 2 (2.2%) Buddhist. A conceptual analysis of nursing students' written responses to the question "What is spirituality to me?" was conducted. Two overarching categories were identified. The first category was titled "What aspects or characters are linked to spirituality?" and included 5 subcategories: people, life, experience, a sense of security, and capacity. The second category was titled "How is spirituality experienced, practiced and lived?" and included 5 subcategories: sometimes just a hug, to align one's life with that purpose, to be content with myself, conscious attention to oneself, and demarcation from religion. These subcategories were interrelated to one another. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: These findings have implications for how spirituality is introduced in nursing education.