BENEFITS OF SPIRITUALITY

Numerous studies have shown that spirituality can improve quality of life for people with chronic diseases like cancer. According to a literature review published recently in JACC Heart Failure, spirituality can also have a positive impact on quality of life for heart failure patients. “Patients who have heart failure experience a poorer quality of life compared to their peers, with high levels of depression, anxiety and spiritual distress,” said lead study author, Dr Rachel Tobin of Duke University Hospital. According to the researchers, spirituality is hard to define, but they reference several definitions that describe spirituality as how individuals find meaning and purpose in life, which can be separate from religious beliefs. “The literature suggests not only can spirituality improve quality of life for the patient, it can help support caregivers and potentially help heart failure patients from needing to be readmitted to the hospital,” Tobin said. “What we have suggested and are now doing is developing a spirituality screening tool, similar to ones used to screen for depression. This can be used to identify heart failure patients in palliative care who are at risk for spiritual distress.” Dr Duke said more research needed to be done.