Topics of spirituality in neonatology – Results from a systematic literature review

Michael Thiel

doi:10.1515/spircare-2016-0135

Article

Topics of spirituality in neonatology – Results from a systematic literature review

Michael Thiel

Published/Copyright: October 13, 2016

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From the journal Spiritual Care Volume 5 Issue 4

Abstract

Introduction

The prognosis of preterms and ill newborns has improved substantially during the last decades. Besides conventional methods, additional interventions play an important role in this development. Managing parents' needs under the circumstances of intensive care can be a crucial aspect of dealing with this difficult situation. But data on this group has not been systematically evaluated so far.

Method

We performed a systematic literature review following the PRISMA criteria. Keywords were neonates, neonatology, newborn, preterm, parents, and spirituality. All study types in English and German were included.

Results

After evaluating the abstracts of the initial search results, we considered 33 studies eligible for analysis. Study types are surveys, interviews (qualitative studies), case reports, and reviews. Topics were parents, ethnical differences, medical staff, and palliative care.

Discussion

There is a variety of studies on spirituality in neonatology with a broad spectrum of study types. A meta-analysis is difficult, especially because of the heterogeneity of the study designs, patient numbers and questionnaires used. Although the studies are promising, short-term and long-term outcomes have not been evaluated yet. Interesting endpoints such as the influence on mortality, morbidity and duration of hospital stay cannot be stated. Thus it is too early to derive practical recommendations for the medical staff from these studies.

Conclusion

Although there is a body of data on spirituality in neonatology that addresses several important aspects, even more studies on the impact of parents' needs and the consequences for the medical staff are required.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Die Prognose von Frühgeborenen und kranken Neugeborenen hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten entscheidend verbessert. Neben den konventionellen Methoden spielen begleitende Maßnahmen eine wichtige Rolle. Über die Rolle spiritueller Aspekte bei der Krankheitsverarbeitung bei Erwachsenen liegen zahlreiche Daten vor. Es wurde nun untersucht, welche Rolle Spiritualität bei der Bewältigung der schwierigen Umstände eines kranken Neugeborenen für Eltern spielt..

Methodik

Es wurde eine systematische Literaturrecherche nach den PRISMA-Kriterien durchgeführt. Schlüsselwörter: neonates, neonatology, newborn, preterm, parents, and spirituality. Eingeschlossen wurden alle Studientypen, als Sprachen Englisch und Deutsch.

Ergebnisse

Nach Überprüfung der beim ersten Suchlauf gefundenen Abstracts erwiesen sich 33 Studien für eine weitere Analyse geeignet. Dabei fanden sich Befragungen, Interviews (qualitative Studien), Fallberichte und Reviews. Die Themen ließen sich unterteilen in a) Eltern, b) medizinisches Personal, c) ethnische Unterschiede und d) Palliativpflege.

Diskussion

Es existiert eine Vielzahl von Studien über Spiritualität in der Neonatologie mit einem breiten Spektrum von Studientypen. Die Durchführung einer Meta-Analyse ist schwierig, besonders wegen der Heterogenität der Studiendesigns, Patientenzahlen und der verwendeten Untersuchungsmaterialien. Einige Studienergebnisse sind vielversprechend; Einflüsse auf die Kurz- und Langzeit-Prognose wurden bisher nicht untersucht. Dazu zählen z.B. auch Einflüsse auf Mortalität, Morbidität und die Dauer des Krankenhausaufenthaltes sowie die weitere Entwicklung. Daher reichen die Daten nicht aus, um fundierte Empfehlungen an Ärzte, Pflegende und weitere an der Betreuung beteiligte Berufsgruppen zu geben.

Schlussfolgerung

Obwohl es bereits zahlreiche Daten zu verschiedenen Aspekten der Spiritualität in der Neonatologie gibt, sind weitere Studien notwendig, um dem medizinischen Personal konkrete Empfehlungen zum Umgang mit diesem wichtigen Thema geben zu können.

Keywords: Neonatology; Parents’ Needs; Coping

Schlüsselwörter: Neonatologie; Bedürfnisse der Eltern; Coping

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Biografische Angaben

Michael Thiel
Dr. Michael Thiel, Kinderarzt, Neonatologe und Arzt für Naturheilverfahren.
Chefarzt der Klinik für Kinder und Jugendliche am Sana Klinikum Remscheid, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität zu Köln
Vorher Leitender Oberarzt am Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke
Mitglied des Gerhard Kienle Lehrstuhls für Medizintheorie, Integrative und Anthroposophische Medizin, Fakultät für Gesundheit, Department für Humanmedizin, Institut für Integrative Medizin
Forschungsschwerpunkte: Komplementäre und Alternative Medizin sowie Spiritualität in der Pädiatrie, insbesondere in der Neonatologie

Published Online: 2016-10-13

Published in Print: 2016-10-1

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/spircare-2016-0135

Keywords for this article

Neonatology; Parents’ Needs; Coping