How do health professionals provide spiritual care to seriously ill children?

ABSTRACT This qualitative study examines how health professionals working in paediatrics understand and practice spiritual care. Semi-structured interviews were held with six paediatric health professionals. Domains of interest were understanding spiritual care, training in spiritual care and culture in spiritual care. An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach was used. The study findings revealed that health professionals held various views on what spiritual care consisted of. Spiritual care of children was seen to be different to that of adults, an understanding of child development and a family’s culture was considered essential. As this study was New Zealand based, the inclusion of Māori Tikanga (traditional practices) were considered to enhance spiritual care. Participants stated there was a lack of training available in the spiritual care of children. Education and opportunities for peer and self-reflection would support health professionals to develop an awareness of their own views on spiritual care and enhance their practice.