"More Spiritual Health Professionals Provide Different Care": A Qualitative Study in the Field of Mental Health.

In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in studies demonstrating the positive effects of the religiosity/spirituality (R/S) approach on patients' physical and mental health. In mental health units, patients want professionals to be sensitive to their spiritual and/or religious needs, which is a fundamental aspect of a holistic approach to patients. Qualitative research with an exploratory and descriptive design with an ethnographic-phenomenological approach through in-depth interviews with sixteen professionals from Spanish mental health units. There is no consensus on the definition of spirituality; however, all of them believe that R/S has a positive influence on the health of patients in coping with illness. They believe that their own R/S may interfere with the professional-patient relationship and their attention to spiritual needs. Few professionals address these needs, citing limitations such as lack of time and lack of specific training in spiritual care. More research is needed on the spiritual care of mental health professionals to define the framework, professional training, and associated challenges in the spiritual care of patients.

Health Problems and the Use of Medications and Traditional Therapies among Chinese Immigrants Living in Spain.

In this study, we investigate the health problems and the use of medications and traditional therapies among Chinese immigrants in the Southern region of Spain. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and including 133 immigrants and 7 stakeholders was conducted in 2017. Transcription, literal reading, and theoretical categorization were performed, and a narrative content analysis was carried out. The most common health problems were musculoskeletal (28.6%) and allergies (25.6%) related to work activity and unhealthy lifestyles. Key informants also reported gastric problems, stress, and changes in eating habits, mostly related to their work activity. For these problems, a large number of traditional remedies (herbs, diet therapy, acupuncture, vitamins, etc.) were used, usually combined with pharmaceutical drugs used for colds, flu, general malaise (29%), pain and fever (23%), and allergy drugs (9.2%). Chinese immigrants reported health conditions associated with their working conditions and life habits in Spain, using Traditional Chinese Medicine instead of pharmacological drugs. Understanding these health problems and promoting awareness towards traditional therapies in the healthcare system may help to design public policies and Health Promotion strategies targeting this group.

[Caring with meaning: the spiritual care in healthcare from the professional´s perspective]. / Cuidando con sentido: la atención de lo espiritual en la práctica clínica desde la perspectiva del profesional.

OBJECTIVE: To treat whole patient, spiritual and religious dimension included, allows improve the quality humanization healthcare. The aim of this study was to know the point of professional view regarding to assess this dimensions in patients attended in regional hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study, through an ad-hoc survey with 30 issues (Likert 0: strongly disagree with 4: strongly agree), to health professionals, conducted in April 2017. Necessary sample size: 238. The SPSS (v19.0) statistical analysis was used. We calculated the absolute frequency and percentage of answers with each question and we used Chi-Square to assess the association of the answers with sex and professional category and ANOVA for age. RESULTS: We recruited 302 participants. 95.5% of women stand out the importance of creating an environment to express their spiritual and/or religious dimension the patient, compared to 87.6% of men (p = 0.017). At an older age, professionals differentiated the concepts of spirituality and religiosity better and agreed that both dimensions affected the patient (differences between 5-8 years of average age). The doctors were more in agreement with the importance of spirituality, followed by nurses and less auxiliaries, with significant differences in 17 issues. CONCLUSIONS: The professionals recognized the importance of taking care of the spiritual and/or religious dimension, with some differences between professional categories, sex and age. Training in these subjects would favor a more comprehensive and quality assistance.

OBJETIVO: La calidad en la humanización de la asistencia sanitaria implica el cuidado integral de los pacientes, considerando todas las facetas de la persona, incluida también su dimensión espiritual y religiosa. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la visión de los profesionales respecto al cuidado de esta dimensión en los pacientes atendidos en un hospital comarcal. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal, mediante una encuesta ad-hoc a profesionales sanitarios con 30 cuestiones (según escala de Likert, de 0=totalmente en desacuerdo a 4=totalmente de acuerdo), realizada en abril de 2017. El tamaño muestral necesario fue de 238. Se analizó con SPSS v19.0, se describieron la frecuencia absoluta y el porcentaje de acuerdos con cada cuestión, y se usó Chi-Cuadrado para valorar la asociación de las respuestas con el sexo y la categoría profesional, y ANOVA para la edad. RESULTADOS: Se reclutaron 302 participantes. El 95,5% de mujeres destacó la importancia de crear un ambiente para que el paciente exprese su dimensión espiritual y/o religiosa, frente al 87,6% de hombres. A mayor edad, los profesionales diferenciaron mejor los conceptos de espiritualidad y religiosidad, y coincidieron en que ambas dimensiones afectaban al enfermo (diferencias entre 5-8 años de edad media). Los médicos estuvieron más de acuerdo con la importancia de la espiritualidad, seguidos de los enfermeros y los auxiliares, con diferencias significativas en 17 cuestiones. CONCLUSIONES: Los profesionales reconocen la importancia de cuidar la dimensión espiritual y/o religiosa, con algunas diferencias entre categorías profesionales, sexo y edad. La formación en estos temas favorecería una atención más integral y de calidad en la asistencia.

Cuidando con sentido: la atención de lo espiritual en la práctica clínica desde la perspectiva del profesional / Caring with meaning: the spiritual care in healthcare from the professional's perspective

OBJETIVO: La calidad en la humanización de la asistencia sanitaria implica el cuidado integral de los pacientes, considerando todas las facetas de la persona, incluida también su dimensión espiritual y religiosa. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la visión de los profesionales respecto al cuidado de esta dimensión en los pacientes atendidos en un hospital comarcal. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal, mediante una encuesta ad-hoc a profesionales sanitarios con 30 cuestiones (según escala de Likert, de 0=totalmente en desacuerdo a 4=totalmente de acuerdo), realizada en abril de 2017. El tamaño muestral necesario fue de 238. Se analizó con SPSS v19.0, se describieron la frecuencia absoluta y el porcentaje de acuerdos con cada cuestión, y se usó Chi-Cuadrado para valorar la asociación de las respuestas con el sexo y la categoría profesional, y ANOVA para la edad. RESULTADOS: Se reclutaron 302 participantes. El 95,5% de mujeres destacó la importancia de crear un ambiente para que el paciente exprese su dimensión espiritual y/o religiosa, frente al 87,6% de hombres. A mayor edad, los profesionales diferenciaron mejor los conceptos de espiritualidad y religiosidad, y coincidieron en que ambas dimensiones afectaban al enfermo (diferencias entre 5-8 años de edad media). Los médicos estuvieron más de acuerdo con la importancia de la espiritualidad, seguidos de los enfermeros y los auxiliares, con diferencias significativas en 17 cuestiones. CONCLUSIONES: Los profesionales reconocen la importancia de cuidar la dimensión espiritual y/o religiosa, con algunas diferencias entre categorías profesionales, sexo y edad. La formación en estos temas favorecería una atención más integral y de calidad en la asistencia

OBJECTIVE: To treat whole patient, spiritual and religious dimension included, allows improve the quality humanization healthcare. The aim of this study was to know the point of professional view regarding to assess this dimensions in patients attended in regional hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study, through an ad-hoc survey with 30 issues (Likert 0: strongly disagree with 4: strongly agree), to health professionals, conducted in April 2017. Necessary sample size: 238. The SPSS (v19.0) statistical analysis was used. We calculated the absolute frequency and percentage of answers with each question and we used Chi-Square to assess the association of the answers with sex and professional category and ANOVA for age. RESULTS: We recruited 302 participants. 95.5% of women stand out the importance of creating an environment to express their spiritual and/or religious dimension the patient, compared to 87.6% of men (p = 0.017). At an older age, professionals differentiated the concepts of spirituality and religiosity better and agreed that both dimensions affected the patient (differences between 5-8 years of average age). The doctors were more in agreement with the importance of spirituality, followed by nurses and less auxiliaries, with significant differences in 17 issues. CONCLUSIONS: The professionals recognized the importance of taking care of the spiritual and/or religious dimension, with some differences between professional categories, sex and age. Training in these subjects would favor a more comprehensive and quality assistance