Challenges of providing spiritual care to patients in Iranian teaching hospitals: a qualitative study

Recognizing the spiritual dimension of human existence is crucial to overall physical, mental, and social well-being. Spiritual care, as an essential component of holistic healthcare, has garnered increasing attention from researchers and health professionals in recent years. Despite its significance-particularly in hospital settings aimed at enhancing patients' quality of life-numerous challenges impede effective implementation. This qualitative study aimed to identify the challenges in providing spiritual care to patients in Iranian teaching hospitals.

This qualitative study used a conventional content-analysis approach and was conducted in 2024. The study population comprised experts in spiritual care and other stakeholders. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 24 participants selected via purposive sampling. MAXQDA (version 22) software was used to manage and analyze the data. Each interview transcript was coded using open, axial, and selective coding.

The study identified key challenges in providing spiritual care within medical centers, categorized as: lack of belief (lack of knowledge and awareness; challenges of contextualization); inefficiency in resource management (infrastructure challenges; lack of allocation of financial resources; human resource challenges); process challenges (weaknesses in laws and regulations; lack of enforcement guarantee; lack of management stability; lack of a documented M&E system); limitations of program organization (poor intra-sectoral coordination; poor external coordination); and educational challenges (lack of value in the educational system; lack of effective education).

Addressing these identified challenges requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that considers cultural, economic, legal, and educational dimensions. Developing and promoting a national model for spiritual care, along with conducting regular evaluations, is essential to ensure effective implementation.