Patients' Needs of Religion/Spirituality Integration in Two Mental Health Clinics in the Netherlands

• Published in: Issues in mental health nursing 2019-01, Vol.40 (1), p.41-49
• Main Authors: van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse, Joke C., Schaap-Jonker, Hanneke, Hennipman-Herweijer, Christina, Anbeek, Christa, Braam, Arjan W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affinity; Christianity; Christians; Content analysis; Medical personnel; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental health professionals; Mental health services; Needs; Nurses; Patients; Religion; Religiosity; Religious beliefs; Spirituality; Teams
• ISSN: 0161-2840; 1096-4673
• DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2018.1475522

Introduction: In the last decades, the attention for religion/spirituality (R/S) in mental health care (MHC) has considerably increased. However, patients' preferences concerning R/S in treatment have not often been investigated. The aim of this study was to find out how patients in clinical multidisciplinary MHC want R/S to be addressed in their care. Methods: Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were carried out between September 2015 and July 2016 among patients in a secular and a Christian MHC in the Netherlands. Qualitative inductive content analysis was performed, using Atlas Ti. Results: Patients appreciated (1) individual R/S conversations between patients and care team members (mainly nurses), (2) a familiar R/S environment, (3) a special R/S program and (4) contact with their R/S network. Patients varied in their presentation of R/S care needs from (a) explicit, mostly in the Christian MHC, to (b) implicit, predominantly in the secular MHC, or showed (c) hidden R/S care needs. A non-acute stage of the illness and R/S affinity of the mental health professionals, were classified as possible conditions for addressing R/S. Discussion and implications for practice: Nurses are recommended to be aware of the diversity of patients' R/S care needs. Actively addressing R/S may help in recognizing implicit or even hidden R/S care needs. Further considerations on whether and how to respond to patients' R/S care needs would be justified.