← Menu

7 Cultural understanding and spiritual care

Take the chapter quiz before and after you read this chapter.

Open chapter quiz

Close quiz

First time? Register for free. Just enter your email or cell number and create a password.

Waiting for an Internet connection …

Reload page

Close quiz

Contents

Objectives

When you have completed this chapter you should be able to:

  1. Understand the meaning and importance of culture.
  2. Understand the importance of cultural competence.
  3. Understand the difference between spirituality and religion.
  4. Describe ways that children may express their spirituality.
  5. Assess spiritual care.
  6. Plan a programme of spiritual care for children.

7-1 What is culture?

Culture may be defined as those shared beliefs, values, customs, practices and patterns of social behaviour, and understanding of important life issues that define a particular group or community. A shared culture may also include common language, religion, dress, art and music. We are born into a culture but may have experiences of many other different cultures throughout childhood and adolescence.

Culture is the shared beliefs and patterns of behaviour and understanding of a particular group of people.

Note
There is also what is known as a ‘culture of childhood’ that is linked to and interacts with but is separate from that of the adult. As children grow, they will gradually leave this and enter the culture of adulthood.

7-2 Is culture important to children?

Yes. Children are body, mind and spirit within cultural groups. The group culture may influence the way they understand their illness, express themselves and make decisions.

7-3 How does culture shape and influence a child’s beliefs?

Culture shapes life experiences and these in turn influence childhood development and how children respond to their illness. The individual beliefs during childhood and adolescence are shaped by their own culture.

Culture shapes childhood development and how children respond to their illness.

7-4 How can culture influence how illness is experienced?

Cultural norms may prevent open discussion between sick children and their parents, for example, a ‘culture of silence’ may prevail. The child’s life may have a different symbolic value in different cultures. Expressions of pain and suffering, and acceptance of medications and treatments may differ from those found acceptable by the healthcare provider. Some cultural influences may prevent the expression of pain and suffering.

7-5 Can culture influence grief and death?

Cultural and religious beliefs may affect the way the family wishes to care for the body after death and influence the family’s expression of grief; these may include belief in life after death, in fate (an outside force determines what happens to you) or karma (your previous actions determine what happens to you).

7-6 What do we mean by cultural sensitivity?

Healthcare workers must be respectful and sensitive to the influence of culture on the response of the child and family to illness, death and bereavement.

To be culturally sensitive is to be respectful and aware of the influence of different cultural norms and beliefs.

7-7 What is cultural competence?

Different cultures may require different responses. In order to be able to respond to the culture of childhood and adolescence with understanding of their language (e.g. play, non-verbal behaviour), means of communication (e.g. social media); beliefs (e.g. imaginary friends) and their understanding of their role in the family it is essential to respect, accept and learn the important values, norms and beliefs in the child’s culture.

Cultural competence is the respect and acceptance of differences in values, norms and beliefs of other peoples’ culture.

7-8 Why do we need cultural sensitivity and cultural competence?

In palliative care we interact with people of many different cultures and therefore we require cultural sensitivity and cultural competence to interact effectively and understand their different values and beliefs. There is also a culture of both childhood and adolescence which may influence the way patients of different ages understand, communicate and react to their illness. Cultural competence and cultural sensitivity includes respect for each culture and an awareness of actual and potential cultural factors that may influence interactions, decisions and expressions.

In order to interact with people it is important to understand different cultures and accept that children and adolescents may have their own culture and beliefs.

7-9 Are there any misunderstandings about culture and religion?

Yes, misunderstandings (misconceptions) occur when healthcare providers assume that a patient or family’s culture will determine their religious beliefs or how they practice their religion. For example, not all Indian people are Hindus or Muslims and not all Buddhists are Asian. Many Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists live in Western countries.

Assessing culture

7-10 Is there a framework that can be used to address culturally sensitive issues?

Yes, use a framework that includes the following three areas:

These are helpful for communicating and exploring information about the child and family’s culture, religion or spirituality.

7-11 How would you assess the family’s culture and beliefs?

An assessment can be done by asking questions of the family and the child such as:

7-12 How would you provide culturally sensitive care to a child and the family?

The basis of cultural care is respect and acceptance when there are cultural differences. With older children, their cultural identity and care may also be related to their gender experience, such as being transgender, or their sexual orientation, such as being gay. If you are unsure, ask the family members about their cultural group and read up on their culture if you do not know about it. It is important to support cultural practices that are not harmful. However, ensure the child is protected if a cultural ritual or belief appears to be harmful.

7-13 How do you manage harmful cultural practices?

Certain cultural practices may seem potentially harmful e.g. some traditional medicine practices. Culturally sensitive and open discussion with the parents or guardians may be challenging, but must be initiated. Lawfully the safety and best interest of the child overrules traditional practices and this responsibility may not be ignored. There is also a legal duty to report harmful cultural practices.

Healthcare workers have a duty to prevent or report cultural practices that may harm a child patient.

7-14 What is the aim of traditional African beliefs?

The aim of traditional African beliefs is to restore wholeness and peace between the sick child, God, the ancestors and the living. It includes the family, the community and its basic beliefs and values.

7-15 Can traditional African beliefs influence understanding and treatment of an illness?

Yes, traditional African cultural and religious beliefs can influence the understanding of illness and the response to recommended treatment and decisions taken by the child and family. Many believe that the ancestors play an important role in both the cause and healing of disease.

Traditional African beliefs can influence the understanding and treatment of an illness.

Spirituality and spiritual care

7-16 What is spirituality?

Spirituality involves the way people express meaning and purpose in their lives:

Spirituality is about meaning, purpose and connectedness with the world around us, and the significant or sacred.

7-17 What is religion?

Religion is an organised set of beliefs, practices and stories belonging to a specific group of people. There is a difference between spirituality and religion although a child may express their spirituality through religious actions.

Religion is an organised set of beliefs, practices and stories belonging to a specific group of people.

7-18 Why do we need to include spiritual care as part of palliative care for children?

The World Health Organization (WHO), in their definition of palliative care for children, includes care of the spirit as an essential element alongside care of the body and mind. Spiritual care provides opportunities for children to discover new strength through prayer, mindfulness (awareness) and meditation to cope with the difficulties of serious illness.

7-19 How can we understand spiritual care?

Spiritual care of children is based on respect for the uniqueness of each child, accepting their beliefs, values and forms of spiritual expression without judgement and responding in ways they can understand. It is important to understand the following:

Children are spiritual beings and spirituality is an integral part of each child.

7-20 What spiritual concerns may children have?

Although understood differently at various developmental stages and expressed differently in many cultural and religious ways, the spiritual needs of children are universal. Some of the common spiritual concerns children may have include:

7-21 Do children experience spiritual suffering?

Yes. Children experience spiritual suffering or pain that may be displayed as behaviour change such as withdrawal, anger, fear, questioning and ‘magical thinking’. Religious beliefs, rituals and support may assist the child to cope with their suffering or to find meaning in their suffering.

Children experience spiritual pain and suffering that must be addressed.

7-22 What questions in older children may indicate spiritual suffering?

Older children may ask existential questions such as:

Assessing spirituality

7-23 What is a spiritual assessment of a child?

Spirituality is expressed in a unique way by each child. A spiritual assessment is developmentally defined and involves an understanding of the child’s approaches to understanding life. A spiritual assessment focuses on:

A spiritual assessment involves exploring what has meaning and purpose in a child’s life.

7-24 What is important when conducting a spiritual assessment with a child?

A spiritual assessment may need to be done over time. The best spiritual assessments are those that allow the child to tell their stories, either verbally or through art, music and play.

To conduct a spiritual assessment, it is important to:

7-25 Are there any assessment tools that can be used to assess spirituality and religion?

Yes, an assessment tool called B-E-L-I-E-F is a helpful tool to initiate a discussion with the child and family about their religious and spiritual beliefs.

7-26 What are the components that make up the B-E-L-I-E-F tool?

The components are the following:

  1. B - Belief system – ‘What religion or spiritual beliefs, if any, do members of your family have?’
  2. E - Ethics (values) – ‘What standards or values for life does your family think are important?’
  3. L - Lifestyle – ‘What spiritual habits or activities does your family commit to because of spiritual beliefs e.g. any sacred times you keep or any special diet you may follow?’
  4. I - Involvement with a spiritual community – ‘How connected to a faith community are you? Would you like us to make contact with them?’
  5. E - Education – ‘Are you receiving any form of religious education e.g. do you go to Sunday school?’
  6. F - Future events – ‘Are there any important religious ceremonies for which to prepare your child or that you are getting ready for e.g. a baptism or confirmation?’

7-27 How can you assess spirituality in younger, non-verbal or developmentally delayed children?

For younger children, non-verbal children or developmentally delayed children with serious illnesses there are at present no universally validated tools. Assessment of the young child is based on observing and listening to their answers to questions. These may include finding out the following:

Young, non-verbal or developmentally delayed children may be assessed by observation and listening to their answers to specific questions.

7-28 How can you assess spirituality in an older child or adolescent?

Using a validated spiritual tool like FICA can assist in assessing older children’s and adolescent’s spirituality.

7-29 What does FICA stand for?

FICA stands for:

  1. F – Faith (belief)
    • ‘Do you consider yourself spiritual or religious?’ or ‘Is spirituality something important to you?’ or ‘Do you have spiritual beliefs that help you cope with stress and difficult times?’
    • If the patient responds ‘No,’ the healthcare provider might ask, ‘What gives your life meaning?’ Sometimes patients respond with answers such as family, career or nature.
    • The question of meaning should also be asked, even if people answer yes to spirituality.
  2. I – Importance
    • ‘What importance does your spirituality have in your life? Has your spirituality influenced how you take care of yourself and your health? Does your spirituality influence you in your healthcare decision making?’ (e.g. advance directives and treatment)
  3. C – Community
    • ‘Are you part of a spiritual community?’ Communities such as churches, temples, and mosques, or a group of like-minded friends, family, or yoga class can serve as strong support systems for some patients. You can explore further and ask ‘Is this of support to you and how? Is there a group of people you really love or who are important to you?’
  4. A – Address in care
    • ‘How would you like me, your healthcare provider, to address these spiritual issues in your healthcare?’
Note
Newer models of FICA include diagnosis of spiritual distress. Therefore A also refers to the ‘Assessment and Plan’ of a patient’s spiritual distress or issues within a treatment or care plan.

Spiritual assessment of older children and adolescents may be done using the validated FICA tool.

Planning and providing spiritual care for children

7-30 What should be considered when planning spiritual care?

The following needs to be considered:

7-31 How can we provide spiritual care for children who have the ability to understand and communicate?

To provide spiritual care to a child who can understand and communicate you would:

Allow the child to show you what they need for spiritual care and plan accordingly, involving the child and parents where possible.

7-32 How can we provide spiritual care for non-verbal, very young or disabled children?

To provide spiritual care to a non-verbal, very young or disabled child you should:

Spiritual care for children who are very young, non-verbal or very disabled consists of a comforting presence and activities that promote connectedness with others and with nature.

7-33 Do children know when they are dying?

Yes. Children often know that they are dying and some may tell you in words but they may be afraid to speak of dying to protect their family. It is therefore essential to respond to the child and not ignore them when they express knowledge of their dying.

7-34 How do children express that they know that they are dying?

Children may show this knowledge through art, stories and child-led activities which may include the following:

Children often know they are dying and the care team must respond to the child’s words, expression or art with empathy and honesty.

7-35 Who should provide spiritual support when the child is dying?

Parents or guardians and members of the care team should be informed that the child is dying and a plan should be drawn up to collectively support the child’s wishes or fears. If professional support is needed to address fears of dying, involve an experienced chaplain, spiritual support person or child psychologist.

Case study 1

Stembile was an orphan and seriously ill with heart failure and HIV in a children’s hospice. He was 3-years-old and had very little vocabulary so expressed himself with his eyes, facial expressions and use of his arms together with the few words he could speak.

Two days before he died, he clearly showed the staff that he wanted to visit his favourite places, named his favourite people and went outside to look up at the stars. He pointed to one and said ‘Stembi’s star’.

1. How did Stembile show he understood he was dying?

Through asking to visit and spend time with his favourite people and places. Wanting to have his name on a star in the sky suggests that he feels he is going to heaven. He wanted to complete tasks important to him.

2. What do you think gave Stembile meaning in his life?

Stembile could identify the people and places that had meaning in his short life. Through his actions he showed that he understood that his life was coming to an end and wanted to reach out to people and places (nature) he loved and name a star (the sacred).

3. What skills would the staff have needed to respond to Stembile’s spiritual needs?

Empathy, understanding of a child’s way of communicating, and being open to accepting the mystery of a young child knowing he was dying and had tasks to complete.

Case study 2

Godfrey was 12-years-old and seriously, but not terminally, ill with respiratory failure. His little friend Stembile had died and he was very sad. A week after Stembile’s death he told the hospice nurse that he knew he would die soon.

That day he drew a picture with the house he loved in his favourite colour red and with two empty swings in the garden. The main picture was full of trees and flowers and in bright colours and there was a warm yellow sun in the sky.

Above everything he drew an aeroplane, a helicopter and a rocket all in grey pencil and small in relation to the other parts of the picture.

1. How did Godfrey express his feelings of loss?

Through his art and use of words. The drawing of empty swings in the garden.

2. How did Godfrey use colour to express what had meaning in his life?

Things he loved were in bright colours.

3. How did Godfrey use a demonstration of a journey to show his awareness of approaching death?

Drawings of different vehicles in pencil (that could be erased) possibly showed his uncertainty.

4. How would you approach Godfrey when he spoke of his approaching death?

You could:

If you feel unable to cope, refer to someone with more expertise such as a spiritual support person or psychologist.

5. How would you approach Godfrey when he showed you the picture he drew?

Don’t make assumptions:

Buy books

Did you know? Training and learning can be easier on paper. Buy our books now, or order in bulk at low cost.

Find out more