President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca has said that patients who are spiritual may utilize their beliefs in coping with illness, pain, and life stresses.
She was delivering a speech at the International Conference 'Ethics at the Workplace Calls for Spiritual Standing'.
"Spirituality is an intrinsic characteristic of humanity, through which persons seek ultimate meaning and purpose in life, which may or may not be related to religion," the President said.
"It is the way we experience relationships with ourselves, our family, our significant others, our community, and nature around us. In effect, spirituality is expressed through beliefs, values, traditions, and practices".
"Spirituality inspires and motivates individuals to achieve their optimal being, bringing faith, hope, peace, wellbeing and empowerment".
For Health Professionals, it is of paramount importance to understand the spiritual dimension of human experience, because health care is a practice-based discipline directly related to human concerns, she said.
"Although it is relevant for Health Professionals to provide spiritual care, research has suggested that health professionals identify many barriers to providing this care. Such barriers include insufficient academic preparation, lack of post-academic training, inadequate time and human resources, and lack of privacy to counsel patients".
She explained that an understanding of the patient's spirituality is integral to whole patient care.
"The spiritual care given alongside the physical and emotional care is indeed what makes the health care profession a truly caring profession, where it is a vocation as opposed to solely a career. As you deliberate on the ethical code of professional conduct, you need to consider allowing space for the patient's spirituality".
The President said that the ethical code of professional conduct "will guide you to safeguard your own dignity and also the dignity of the patient under your care, while maintaining a helpful professional teamwork at your place of work".
She highlighted that some studies indicate that those who are spiritual tend to have a more positive outlook and a better quality of life.
"The study carried out by my Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society on sustaining relationships: Couples and Singles in a Changing Society, also found that faith had a strong role in relationship satisfaction".
"You may have experienced patients with advanced cancer who found comfort from their religious and spiritual beliefs, and who were more satisfied with their lives, were happier, and felt less pain."
"However, patients' religion, spirituality, personal beliefs and culture need to be incorporated in the assessment and care of patients' holistic needs and integrity".
"That is why it is so important for patients to have access to a person who can offer spiritual support, if the patient so wishes".
She mentioned a Forum organised by her foundation, with faith leaders, and hospital chaplains."I must say that one of the main concerns raised during this Forum was the fact that faith leaders and members of their respective religions, found it difficult to visit members of their communities in hospitals outside visiting hours. I believe that, in tandem with the reality of our multi faith communities today, the situation has to be reviewed, with a view to allow access to the support of a spiritual leader to every patient, irrespective of their faith".
She said that certain safeguards can be taken to help identification, including having a database of identified faith leaders and wearing of identification tags. The identification would give recognition to members of all faiths and would facilitate the process of identification when a request for spiritual support is made by a patient.
"I augur that the barriers encountered are resolved for the benefit of all patients".
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1MQaHLQ
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment