Research Article
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Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line with a Spiritual Approach

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 1116 - 1124, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1677219

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate midwifery students' perceptions of spiritual support and their caregiving behaviors according to the spiritual approach.
Method: Our study is of descriptive type and was conducted between April 2024 and July 2024. 316 students who met the inclusion criteria and were students of Mersin University Midwifery Department participated in the study. Data were collected using the Informed Consent Form, Data Collection Form, Spiritual Support Perception Scale for Physicians, Midwives, and Nurses, and the Spiritual Care Competence Scale. Data were evaluated using licensed analysis software.
Results: 57.9% of the students who participated in the study reported that they had heard of the concept of spiritual care. When asked what the concept of spiritual care meant to them, 57.4% identified it as “health belief”, 7% “life after death” and 21.5% as “responsibility towards others”. 94.2% of the students stated that they had not received training on spiritual care/spiritual midwifery before and 90.2% emphasized that spiritual care is a part of holistic care. The students' mean score on the Spiritual Support Perception Scale was 45.76±15.82 and was evaluated as "High". However, their mean score on the Spiritual Care Competence Scale was 3.32±0.93 and was determined as "Not Competent".
Conclusion: The findings show that although students' perception of spiritual support is high, they are not sufficient in providing spiritual care. İt is recommended that topics that include moral support and spiritual approaches be added to the curriculum and that application evaluation parameters be adjusted accordingly.

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee Approval Ethics committee approval was obtained from Mersin University Clinical Research Ethics Committee Presidency with the number 2024/342 dated 03/04/2024.

Supporting Institution

There is no institution supporting this research.

Project Number

Yok

Thanks

We would like to thank all students who participated in our research.

References

  • 1. Arslan H, Konuk Şener D. Studying the concepts of stigma, spirituality and comfort ın accordance with meleis’ concept development process. Maltepe University Journal of Nursing Science and Art 2009;2(1):51-58. https://www.academia.edu/34063693/Stigma_Spirit%C3%BCalite_Ve_Konfor_Kavramlar%C4%B1n%C4%B1n_Meleis_in_Kavram_Geli%C5%9Ftirme_S%C3%BCrecine_G%C3%B6re_%C4%B0rdelenmesi
  • 2. Gilliat-Ray S. Nursing, professionalism, and spirituality. Journal of Contemporary Religion 2010;18(3):335–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/13537900310001601695
  • 3. Coyle J. Spirituality and health: towards a framework for exploring the relationship between sprituality and health. J Adv Nurs 2002; 37(6): 589-97. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02133.x
  • 4.Wong KF, Lee LYK, Lee JKL. Hong Kong enrolled nurses’ perceptions of spirituality and spiritual sare. Int Nurs Rev 2008; 55: 333–340. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2008.00619.x
  • 5. Pembroke NF, Pembroke JJ. The spirituality of presence in midwifery care. Midwifery 2008;24(3):321-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2006.10.004
  • 6. Crowther S, Hall J. Spirituality and spiritual care in and around childbirth. Women and Birth 2015;28(2):173-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2015.01.001
  • 7. Hall J. Spirituality and midwifery. Spirituality across Disciplines: Research and Practice 2016;217-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31380-1_17
  • 8. Ross L, et al. Factors contributing to student nurses'/midwives' perceived competency in spiritual care. Nurse Education Toda 2016; 36: 445-451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2015.10.005
  • 9. Kavas E, Kavas N. Spırıtual support perceptıon (MDA) scale: development, valıdıty and relıabılıty. Turkısh Studies-International Periodical For The Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic 2014;9/2:905-915. http://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.6161
  • 10. Kabakçı EN. Examination of spiritual care competence in midwives. Eskişehir Osmangazi University Health Sciences Institute Midwifery Department, Master Thesis 2019.
  • 11. Moloney S, Gair S. Empathy and spiritual care in midwifery practice: Contributing to women's enhanced birth experiences. Women and Birth 2015;28(4):323-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2015.04.009
  • 12. Dural G. Spiritual care experiences of nurses working in intensive care units: A qualitative study. Nursing in Critical Care 2024; 29(3):545-554. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12975
  • 13. Mermer G, Demirelöz Akyüz M, Ozturk Can H. Midwifery students’ perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care: An example from Western Turkey. Journal of Religion and Health 2019;58 666-676. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10943-018-0685-0
  • 14. Al Qadire M, et al. Perceptions of spirituality and predictors of competence in spiritual care among nursing students in five middle eastern countries: A cross-sectional survey. Nurse Education Today 2024; 140: 106249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106249
  • 15. Kostak MA, Celikkalp U. Nurses and midwives opinions about spirituality and spiritual care. International Journal of Caring Sciences 2016;9(3): https://research.ebsco.com/c/ylm4lv/viewer/pdf/kdw2lddtfj
  • 16. Cangöl E, Sögüt SC, Garip S. The relationship between the sense of professional belonging and perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care among turkish midwifery students. Journal of Religion and Health 2024;63(3):1818-1829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01978-2
  • 17. Atashzadeh-Shoorideh F, Zakaryaee NS, Fani M. The barriers and facilitators in providing spiritual care for parents who have children suffering from cancer. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 2018;7(6):1319-1326. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_76_18
  • 18. Imeni M, et al. The effect of spiritual care on the body image of patients undergoing amputation due to type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial. Iranian Journal of Nursing And Midwifery Research 2018;23(4):322-326. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_113_15
  • 19. Kamali Z, et al. Effect of spiritual care education on postpartum stress disorder in women with preeclampsia. J Edu Health Promot 2018;7:73. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_170_17
  • 20. Karaca T, Altınbaş Y. Perception of spiritual care support and spiritual care adequacy of nursing students in Turkey: a quasi-experimental study. Journal of Religion and Health 2024;63(3):1775-1785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01931-3
  • 21. Erişen M, Karaca Sivrikaya S. Spiritual care and nursing. GÜSBD 2017;6(3):184-190. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/386011

Bakımda Maneviyat: Ebelik Öğrencilerinin Manevi Destek Algılarının ve Spritüel Yaklaşım Doğrultusunda Bakım Verme Davranışlarının Değerlendirilmesi

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 1116 - 1124, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1677219

Abstract

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, ebelik öğrencilerinin manevi destek algılarını ve manevi yaklaşıma göre bakım verme davranışlarını değerlendirmektir.
Yöntem: Çalışmamız tanımlayıcı tipte olup, Nisan 2024 ile Temmuz 2024 arasında gerçekleştirildi. Dahil etme kriterlerini karşılayan ve Mersin Üniversitesi Ebelik Bölümü öğrencisi olan 316 kişi çalışmaya katıldı. Veriler, Bilgilendirilmiş Onam Formu, Veri Toplama Formu, Hekimler, Ebeler ve Hemşireler için Manevi Destek Algısı Ölçeği ve Manevi Bakım Yeterlilik Ölçeği kullanılarak toplandı. Veriler, lisanslı analiz programı kullanılarak değerlendirildi.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerin %57,9'u manevi bakım kavramını duyduğunu bildirdi. Manevi bakım kavramının onlar için ne anlama geldiği sorulduğunda, %57,4'ü bunu "sağlık inancı", %7'si "ölümden sonra yaşam" ve %21,5'i "başkalarına karşı sorumluluk" olarak tanımladı. Öğrencilerin %94,2'si daha önce manevi bakım/manevi ebelik konusunda eğitim almadıklarını belirtmiş ve %90,2'si manevi bakımın bütünsel bakımın bir parçası olduğunu vurgulamıştır. Öğrencilerin Manevi Destek Algısı Ölçeği'ndeki ortalama puanları 45,76±15,82 olup "Yüksek" olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Ancak Manevi Bakım Yeterlilik Ölçeği'ndeki ortalama puanları 3,32±0,93 olup "Yeterli Değil" olarak belirlenmiştir.
Sonuç: Bulgular, öğrencilerin manevi destek algılarının yüksek olmasına rağmen manevi bakım sağlamada yeterli olmadıklarını göstermektedir. Manevi destek ve spiritüel yaklaşım içeren konuların müfredata eklenmesi ve uygulama değerlendirme parametrelerinin bu doğrultuda düzenlenmesi önerilmektedir.

Ethical Statement

Etik Kurul Onayı Mersin Üniversitesi Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurul Başkanlığı'ndan 03/04/2024 tarih 2024/342 sayısı ile etik kurul izni alınmıştır.

Supporting Institution

Araştırmamızı destekleyen bir kurum bulunmamaktadır.

Project Number

Yok

Thanks

Araştırmamıza katılan tüm öğrencilerimize teşekkür ederiz.

References

  • 1. Arslan H, Konuk Şener D. Studying the concepts of stigma, spirituality and comfort ın accordance with meleis’ concept development process. Maltepe University Journal of Nursing Science and Art 2009;2(1):51-58. https://www.academia.edu/34063693/Stigma_Spirit%C3%BCalite_Ve_Konfor_Kavramlar%C4%B1n%C4%B1n_Meleis_in_Kavram_Geli%C5%9Ftirme_S%C3%BCrecine_G%C3%B6re_%C4%B0rdelenmesi
  • 2. Gilliat-Ray S. Nursing, professionalism, and spirituality. Journal of Contemporary Religion 2010;18(3):335–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/13537900310001601695
  • 3. Coyle J. Spirituality and health: towards a framework for exploring the relationship between sprituality and health. J Adv Nurs 2002; 37(6): 589-97. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02133.x
  • 4.Wong KF, Lee LYK, Lee JKL. Hong Kong enrolled nurses’ perceptions of spirituality and spiritual sare. Int Nurs Rev 2008; 55: 333–340. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2008.00619.x
  • 5. Pembroke NF, Pembroke JJ. The spirituality of presence in midwifery care. Midwifery 2008;24(3):321-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2006.10.004
  • 6. Crowther S, Hall J. Spirituality and spiritual care in and around childbirth. Women and Birth 2015;28(2):173-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2015.01.001
  • 7. Hall J. Spirituality and midwifery. Spirituality across Disciplines: Research and Practice 2016;217-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31380-1_17
  • 8. Ross L, et al. Factors contributing to student nurses'/midwives' perceived competency in spiritual care. Nurse Education Toda 2016; 36: 445-451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2015.10.005
  • 9. Kavas E, Kavas N. Spırıtual support perceptıon (MDA) scale: development, valıdıty and relıabılıty. Turkısh Studies-International Periodical For The Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic 2014;9/2:905-915. http://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.6161
  • 10. Kabakçı EN. Examination of spiritual care competence in midwives. Eskişehir Osmangazi University Health Sciences Institute Midwifery Department, Master Thesis 2019.
  • 11. Moloney S, Gair S. Empathy and spiritual care in midwifery practice: Contributing to women's enhanced birth experiences. Women and Birth 2015;28(4):323-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2015.04.009
  • 12. Dural G. Spiritual care experiences of nurses working in intensive care units: A qualitative study. Nursing in Critical Care 2024; 29(3):545-554. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12975
  • 13. Mermer G, Demirelöz Akyüz M, Ozturk Can H. Midwifery students’ perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care: An example from Western Turkey. Journal of Religion and Health 2019;58 666-676. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10943-018-0685-0
  • 14. Al Qadire M, et al. Perceptions of spirituality and predictors of competence in spiritual care among nursing students in five middle eastern countries: A cross-sectional survey. Nurse Education Today 2024; 140: 106249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106249
  • 15. Kostak MA, Celikkalp U. Nurses and midwives opinions about spirituality and spiritual care. International Journal of Caring Sciences 2016;9(3): https://research.ebsco.com/c/ylm4lv/viewer/pdf/kdw2lddtfj
  • 16. Cangöl E, Sögüt SC, Garip S. The relationship between the sense of professional belonging and perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care among turkish midwifery students. Journal of Religion and Health 2024;63(3):1818-1829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01978-2
  • 17. Atashzadeh-Shoorideh F, Zakaryaee NS, Fani M. The barriers and facilitators in providing spiritual care for parents who have children suffering from cancer. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 2018;7(6):1319-1326. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_76_18
  • 18. Imeni M, et al. The effect of spiritual care on the body image of patients undergoing amputation due to type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial. Iranian Journal of Nursing And Midwifery Research 2018;23(4):322-326. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_113_15
  • 19. Kamali Z, et al. Effect of spiritual care education on postpartum stress disorder in women with preeclampsia. J Edu Health Promot 2018;7:73. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_170_17
  • 20. Karaca T, Altınbaş Y. Perception of spiritual care support and spiritual care adequacy of nursing students in Turkey: a quasi-experimental study. Journal of Religion and Health 2024;63(3):1775-1785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01931-3
  • 21. Erişen M, Karaca Sivrikaya S. Spiritual care and nursing. GÜSBD 2017;6(3):184-190. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/386011
There are 21 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Midwifery
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Aslı Eker 0000-0003-0259-7085

Asena Ayça Özdemir 0000-0002-0108-1880

Edanur Varılmaz 0009-0003-0738-7893

Nazlı Özel 0009-0000-3021-0218

Project Number Yok
Submission Date April 16, 2025
Acceptance Date September 3, 2025
Early Pub Date September 27, 2025
Publication Date September 30, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 15 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Eker, A., Özdemir, A. A., Varılmaz, E., Özel, N. (2025). Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line with a Spiritual Approach. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi Ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi, 15(3), 1116-1124. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1677219
AMA Eker A, Özdemir AA, Varılmaz E, Özel N. Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line with a Spiritual Approach. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi. September 2025;15(3):1116-1124. doi:10.31020/mutftd.1677219
Chicago Eker, Aslı, Asena Ayça Özdemir, Edanur Varılmaz, and Nazlı Özel. “Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line With a Spiritual Approach”. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi Ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi 15, no. 3 (September 2025): 1116-24. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1677219.
EndNote Eker A, Özdemir AA, Varılmaz E, Özel N (September 1, 2025) Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line with a Spiritual Approach. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi 15 3 1116–1124.
IEEE A. Eker, A. A. Özdemir, E. Varılmaz, and N. Özel, “Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line with a Spiritual Approach”, Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1116–1124, 2025, doi: 10.31020/mutftd.1677219.
ISNAD Eker, Aslı et al. “Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line With a Spiritual Approach”. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi 15/3 (September2025), 1116-1124. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1677219.
JAMA Eker A, Özdemir AA, Varılmaz E, Özel N. Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line with a Spiritual Approach. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi. 2025;15:1116–1124.
MLA Eker, Aslı et al. “Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line With a Spiritual Approach”. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi Ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 3, 2025, pp. 1116-24, doi:10.31020/mutftd.1677219.
Vancouver Eker A, Özdemir AA, Varılmaz E, Özel N. Spirituality in Care: Evaluating Midwifery Students’ Perceptions of Spiritual Support and Their Behavior in Providing Care in Line with a Spiritual Approach. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi. 2025;15(3):1116-24.

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