Characterization of Spirituality in Maternal-Child Caregivers

To characterize spiritual beliefs and support provided by maternal-child staff at three academic hospitals.

Parents in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) believe that addressing spirituality is important. The spiritual beliefs and the support provided by NICU staff are currently unknown.

This prospective study surveyed all maternal-child staff (NICU and Obstetrics): physicians, neonatal nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, respiratory therapists, and social workers. Two validated tools were used: Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale (SIBS) and Spiritual Care Inventory (SCI); SIBS assesses spiritual beliefs and practices, SCI assesses the perception of spiritual care that one provides. Demographic information, including self-identified religious affiliation, was collected.

Respondents of 406 completed surveys were mostly nurses, female, white, and Christian. SIBS scores ranged between 21 and 136. Higher SIBS score was associated with Christian religion (p = 0.001) and African American (p = 0.003) and Asian (p = 0.017) race, when controlling for site, age, gender, education, role in the NICU, and years in practice. A high SCI score was also associated with Christian religion (p = 0.01). There was a trend toward an association between SCI and older age (p = 0.051). There was an association between a high SIBS score and higher ratings on both SCI subscales used.

There is a wide range in spirituality and perceived spiritual support among maternal-child staff. This may coincide with the spiritual needs of families in the NICU.