A Platform for Nursing Research on Spirituality and Religiosity: Definitions and Measures

Spirituality or religiousness is important across the health trajectory, from promoting health and preventing disease, to coping with illness and end of life. Research on the relationship of religiousness or spirituality to health spans more than one discipline and applies many definitions and measu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Western journal of nursing research 2012-10, Vol.34 (6), p.795-817
Main Authors: Cohen, Marlene Z., Holley, Lyn M., Wengel, Steven P., Katzman, Rabbi Mendel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Evidence-based medicine
Evidence-Based Nursing
Health
Health promotion
Nursing
Nursing care
Nursing Research
Professional practices
Religion
Religiosity
Spirituality
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Summary:Spirituality or religiousness is important across the health trajectory, from promoting health and preventing disease, to coping with illness and end of life. Research on the relationship of religiousness or spirituality to health spans more than one discipline and applies many definitions and measures. The purpose of this multidisciplinary work is to facilitate research by nurses who seek to investigate the relationship between health and religiousness or spirituality, and provide evidence-based guidance for nursing practice. Senior researchers summarize the history of inquiry on this topic, discuss particular and persistent challenges posed by definitions of religion and spirituality, describe selected measures that have enjoyed wide application, and make recommendations for consideration by nurse researchers. Use of existing knowledge to select variables, definitions, and measures, and to link research questions and findings to the larger body of current inquiry, will advance nursing practice closer to fulfilling Nightingale’s ideals for effective care.
ISSN:0193-9459
1552-8456
DOI:10.1177/0193945912444321