Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42399899›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2026

Efficacy of structured spiritual care education program on nurses' spiritual well-being and clinical competence: a randomized controlled trial.

Mehrvash Hemati, Azita Jaberi, Naval Heydari, Marzieh Momennasab

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Mehrvash HematiDepartment of Nursing, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Azita JaberiDepartment of Nursing, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Naval HeydariDepartment of Nursing, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. navalheydari@gmail.com.
Marzieh MomennasabDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpiritual care is a key component of holistic nursing practice, yet many nurses feel insufficiently prepared to provide it effectively. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a structured spiritual care education on nurses' spiritual well-being and clinical competence.

methodsThis randomized controlled trial was conducted on 120 female nurses working in a specialized hospital in Iran from March 2024 to January 2025. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention (n = 60) and control (n = 60) groups using block randomization with a block size of four and allocation concealment via sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes. The intervention group received a four-session structured spiritual care education program based on interactive lectures, scenario-based learning, and reflective discussions using the Gibbs reflective cycle, while the control group received routine training. Outcomes included spiritual well-being (measured by the Spiritual Well-Being Scale) and clinical competence (measured by the Clinical Competence Questionnaire), assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at two-month follow-up.

resultsAfter the intervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher spiritual well-being scores compared to the control group, including both religious and existential dimensions (p < 0.001). Clinical competence scores were also significantly higher in the intervention group across most domains, including clinical care, interpersonal relationships, legal-ethical practice, professional development, and teaching-coaching (all p < 0.001). These improvements were sustained at the two-month follow-up. Effect sizes ranged from small to large, and mixed repeated-measures analysis confirmed a significant group × time interaction (p < 0.001), indicating greater improvement in the intervention group over time.

conclusionStructured scenario-based spiritual care education can effectively improve nurses' spiritual well-being and clinical competence. We recommend integrating such programs into nursing education and continuing professional development.

trial registrationRetrospectively registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCTID:IRCT20220927056047N2; https://en.irct.ir/trial/89352) on 2026-05-02.

Indexed as

Clinical competenceNursing educationSpiritual careSpiritual well-being

Identifiers

PMID42399899
PMCPMC13613841

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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.