Patients as teachers: a qualitative study of spiritual care delivery experiences of senior healthcare providers in Taiwan

TL;DR

This study explores how healthcare providers in Taiwan deliver spiritual care, highlighting cultural sensitivity and trust-building as key factors.

Contribution

The study identifies four themes from healthcare professionals' experiences, offering insights into improving spiritual care delivery in Taiwan.

Findings

Spiritual distress often manifests subtly and requires clinical sensitivity.

Trust is essential for effective spiritual dialogue.

Spiritual care fosters meaning reconstruction and personal growth for caregivers.

Abstract

Spiritual care is a core component of holistic health care that addresses patients’ existential and emotional needs. However, in Taiwan, spiritual care delivery remains inconsistent due to cultural, educational, and institutional barriers. This study explored the spiritual care delivery experiences and reflections of healthcare professionals in Taiwan.

Focus group interviews were conducted with 15 physicians and nurses from healthcare institutions across northern Taiwan. Interview data were subjected to thematic analysis to identify key patterns and themes.

Four major themes emerged: (1) subtle and culturally mediated manifestations of spiritual distress, requiring heightened clinical sensitivity; (2) trust-building as a foundation for spiritual dialogue; (3) facilitating meaning reconstruction through spiritual care delivery; and (4) reflection and integration into professional learning and personal growth. Participants emphasized the need for culturally sensitive education, experiential learning methods, and institutional support to strengthen spiritual care practices.

Spiritual care is a reciprocal and transformative process that benefits both patients and caregivers. Healthcare institutions and training programs should integrate cultural sensitivity, reflective practice, and experiential learning into education and policy to help professionals effectively address patients’ spiritual needs.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-026-08852-1.