Religious/spiritual care needs and treatment alliance among clinical mental health patients

Op 5 september verscheen in 'Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing' een artikel van Joke van Nieuw Amerongen‐Meeuse, Hanneke Schaap‐Jonker, Christa Anbeek en Arjan Braam. Dit artikel hoort bij het onderzoek 'Geloof in behandeling'.

Abstract

4.1 Introduction

Attention to religion and spirituality (R/S) in mental health care has increased and may benefit treatment alliance.

4.2 Aim

To describe the association of (un)met R/S care needs with treatment alliance and compliance among mental health patients.

4.3 Methods

Patients in a Christian and a secular mental health clinic (n = 201) filled in a questionnaire. Scales of met and unmet R/S care needs (range 0‒14) were regressed on the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI), Service Engagement Scale and Medication Adherence Report Scale. Ancova analyses were performed for the fourteen R/S care needs separately.

4.4 Results

In the Christian clinic, met R/S care needs were associated with a higher WAI score (p = .001) and unmet R/S care needs, with a lower WAI score (p = .000). For the Secular clinic, the same trends were observed, but insignificant. Items with the strongest associations were conversations about religious distress with a nurse (p = .000) and a similar outlook on life with practitioner (p = .001) or nurse (p = .005). (Un)met R/S care needs were not associated with treatment compliance.

4.5 Discussion and implications for practice

We recommend personalized attention to R/S in conversations. A (perceived) similar outlook on life with mental health professionals may be beneficial for religious and nonreligious patients.