Spirituality and palliative care: international models and new perspectives

In recent years, healthcare organizations and scholars, particularly in Western societies, have increasingly recognized the importance of the spiritual dimension in patient care. However, this aspect still needs to be fully integrated into everyday practices. Palliative care has begun to emphasize spirituality, addressing patients' psychological and existential needs through a holistic approach beyond the traditional biomedical paradigm. This concept analysis will first explore healthcare and medical professionals' challenges in implementing shared and patient-centered spiritual practices. It will then draw on experiences integrating spirituality in palliative care from Thailand and Italy and introduce two conceptual models for spiritual care and needs assessment from the UK. The discussion will encourage the implementation of integrated models of spiritual needs assessment and care in adult end-of-life and palliative care settings (that address any life-limiting illness). This approach will enable health professionals to effectively address patients' spiritual needs, fostering authentic conversations that are pivotal in integrating models and transforming the care experience into an empowering and meaningful one for staff and patients.