Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42003026›Full record

ReviewPalliative & supportive care2026

European Association for Palliative Care White Paper on spiritual care for people with neuro-oncological and neurodegenerative conditions: Integrative framework for practice, education, and research.

Piret Paal, Reinhard Grabenweger, Sarah Bublitz, Elisabeth Bumes, Benno Littger, Joni Haikonen, Marie-José Gijsberts, David J Oliver, Simone Veronese, Alexander Kowski and 1 more

Abstract readConsensus StatementReview
In one paragraph

Review in Palliative & supportive care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Piret PaalDepartment of Ethnology, Institute of Cultural Research, Tartu University, Tartu, Estonia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1341-3248
Reinhard GrabenwegerInstitute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Sarah BublitzInstitute of Palliative Care, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3258-543X
Elisabeth BumesDepartment of Neurology - NeuroOncology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Benno LittgerSpecialised Chaplaincy in Neurology, Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, Munich, Germany.
Joni HaikonenDepartment of Ethnology, Institute of Cultural Research, Tartu University, Tartu, Estonia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2432-0837
Marie-José GijsbertsEnd of Life Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
David J OliverTizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Simone VeronesePalliative Care, Fondazione FARO Onlus, Turin, Italy.
Alexander KowskiDepartment of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
Megan BestInstitute for Ethics and Society, The University of Notre Dame Australia - Sydney Campus Broadway, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1570-8872

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis White Paper by the European Association for Palliative Care addresses the imperative to integrate spiritual care into the support of individuals living with neuro-oncological and neurodegenerative conditions. These diseases present complex biomedical, social, psychological, and existential challenges that demand a whole-person approach to care. Various initiatives have progressed the understanding of spirituality as a dimension of well-being, yet the systemic delivery of spiritual care remains inconsistent and inequitable.

methodsThis study adopts a narrative umbrella review approach. We provide a synthesized framework highlighting current knowledge and models of care, educational needs, and future priorities for research, while advocating for the formal integration of spiritual care into all stages of illness.

resultsOur exploration highlights the importance of early integration of dynamic and multidimensional spiritual care for people with neuro-oncological or neurodegenerative diseases. The implementation of spiritual care in this context should address the unique challenges that arise with these diseases, such as changes in spiritual needs and in the ability to communicate spiritual needs across disease progression. Spiritual care should be carried out by the whole care team, offering regular spiritual screenings and referring care to specialists when needed, and it should be offered across all stages of care. Spiritual care should be culturally safe, offering multilingual access, and multi-faith chaplaincy services. SIGNIFICANCE OF

resultsSpiritual care is not a luxury or an optional extra; it is a fundamental aspect of palliative care. There is a need to implement spiritual care across all stages of care, taking into consideration the patient's evolving needs. Sufficient time should be allocated to spiritual care education for social and healthcare professionals. More research is needed to develop validated screening tools and effective interventions.

Indexed as

Neurodegenerative DiseasesPalliative CareSpiritualityEuropeHumansEAPCneurodegenerative diseaseneuro-oncologyPalliative carespiritual careWhite Paper

Identifiers

PMID42003026
PMCPMC13166350

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.