Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39833758›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2025

Future directions of spiritual care where spiritual care providers do not exist: a qualitative study.

Nattawan Meeprasertsagool, Patiphat Anuraktham, Arthit Chaithanasarn, Itthipon Wongprom

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PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Nattawan MeeprasertsagoolDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Rama VI Street, Ratchtevi district, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Patiphat AnurakthamCenter of Contemplative Education, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon District, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
Arthit ChaithanasarnDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Rama VI Street, Ratchtevi district, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Itthipon WongpromDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Rama VI Street, Ratchtevi district, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. itthipon.won@mahidol.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSpiritual care is a fundamental aspect of palliative care, addressing the emotional, existential, and spiritual needs of patients facing life-threatening illnesses. However, in Thailand, the integration of spiritual care into the healthcare system remains underdeveloped due to the absence of professional spiritual care providers. This study aims to explore potential models and future directions for spiritual care within the palliative care context, focusing on how such care can be provided in the absence of professional spiritual care providers.

methodThis study is a part of the mixed-method project Shoulders to Cry on: Care for spirituality when spiritual care providers do not exist, aimed at exploring spiritual care in settings without professional providers in Thailand. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 experts from palliative care, religious studies, and social work fields. The participants were recruited through purposeful sampling, and the data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Transcribed interviews were managed using NVivo software to identify key patterns and insights for future spiritual care models.

resultThe analysis resulted in the development of the S.P.I.R.I.T. model, which outlines six essential themes for the future of spiritual care: (1) Spirituality Training Programs, (2) Providers for Spiritual Care, (3) Integrating Spiritual Care into Healthcare, (4) Research and Evidence-based Practices, (5) Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and (6) Transforming Care Systems. The findings suggest establishing structured training programs and interdisciplinary collaboration are crucial for effective spiritual care delivery.

conclusionThe study emphasises the need for integrating spiritual care into Thailand's healthcare system, focusing on education, research, and collaboration between healthcare providers and religious or community figures. The S.P.I.R.I.T. model offers a framework for addressing current gaps, which could facilitate Thailand's palliative care system in better meeting the spiritual needs of patients. Future studies should focus on establishing spiritual care education in palliative care, especially in resource-limited countries, and addressing local contextual obstacles.

Indexed as

Health PersonnelPalliative CareSpiritualitySpiritual TherapiesAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchThailandHealthcare integrationInterdisciplinary collaborationPalliative careSpiritual careSpirituality

Identifiers

PMID39833758
PMCPMC11744905

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.