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Nurses' Perspectives on The Interaction of Artificial Intelligence and Spirituality In Palliative Care Units: A Qualitative Research

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 72 - 82, 30.08.2025
https://doi.org/10.56150/tjhsl.1738995

Abstract

Bacgkround: Palliative care, a holistic approach to healthcare, addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses. The integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare settings, including palliative care units, presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly concerning the spiritual dimension of care. Nurses, who are at the forefront of patient care, play a critical role in addressing patients' spiritual needs, providing comfort, meaning, and hope in the face of suffering and death.
Aim: This qualitative research seeks to explore nurses' perspectives on the interaction between artificial intelligence and spirituality in palliative care units.
Material and Method: We employed a qualitative descriptive research method, using semi-structured interviews with palliative nurses as the data source. Interviews were analyzed via qualitative content analysis, with data saturation achieved during the interview process. To ensure rigor, both researchers independently identified key topics from verbatim transcripts of audio recordings, followed by discussion and joint evaluation.
Results: We identified 4 overarching main themes in this setting: (1) The Perceived Role of AI in Palliative Care, (2) The Nature of Spirituality in Palliative Care Nursing, (3) Navigating the Intersection of AI and Spirituality, (4) The Impact on the Nurse-Patient Relationship.
Conclusion: The escalating integration of artificial intelligence within healthcare necessitates a comprehensive examination of its implications, especially in sensitive domains such as palliative care, where the humanistic and spiritual dimensions of care are paramount.

References

  • Ceylan H. AI-Enhanced Nursing Education and Clinical Practice: Transforming with Emerging Technologies. OneHealt Plus Journal 2025; 3(1): 1-5.
  • Poalelungi DG, Mușat CL, Fulga A, Neagu M, Neagu A, Piraianu AI, Fulga I. Advancing Patient Care: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Healthcare. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2023;13(8), 1214. Doi:10.3390/jpm13081214.
  • Lee D, Yoon SN. Application of Artificial Intelligence-Based Technologies in the Healthcare Industry: Opportunities and Challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021;18(1), 271. Doi:10.3390/ijerph18010271.
  • Alowais SA, Alghamdi SS, Alsuhebany N, Alqahtani T, Alshaya A, Almohareb SN, Aldairem A, Alrashed M, Saleh KB, Badreldin HA, Yami MSA, Harbi SA, Albekairy A. Revolutionizing healthcare: the role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. BMC Medical Education, 2023; 23(1). Doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04698-z.
  • Avati A, Jung K, Harman S, Downing NL, Ng AY, Shah NH. Improving palliative care with deep learning. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 2018;18. Doi:10.1186/s12911-018-0677-8
  • Miller M, Addicott K, Rosa WE. Spiritual Care as a Core Component of Palliative Nursing. Am J Nurs. 2023;123(2):54-59. Doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000919748.95749.e5.
  • Brown JEH, Halpern J. AI chatbots cannot replace human interactions in the pursuit of more inclusive mental healthcare. SSM - Mental Health, 2021;1, 100017. Doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2021.100017.
  • Momeni G, Hashemi M, Hemati Z. Barriers to Providing Spiritual Care from a Nurses’ Perspective. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 2022;27(6), 575. Doi:10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_422_21.
  • Zhang Z, Wang J. Can AI replace psychotherapists? Exploring the future of mental health care. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024;15. Doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1444382.
  • Smith CE, Kaur A, Gach KZ, Terveen L, Kreitzer MJ, O’Conner-Von S. What is Spiritual Support and How Might It Impact the Design of Online Communities? Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 2021;5, 1. Doi:10.1145/3449117.
  • Selman L, Brighton LJ, Sinclair S, Karvinen I, Egan R, Speck P, Powell RA, Deskur-Śmielecka E, Glajchen M, Adler SR, Puchalski CM, Hunter J, Gikaara N, Hope J. Patients’ and caregivers’ needs, experiences, preferences and research priorities in spiritual care: A focus group study across nine countries. Palliative Medicine, 2017;32(1), 216. Doi:10.1177/0269216317734954.
  • Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. 2007. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (Coreq): a 32‐item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care, 19(6): 349–357.
  • Lincoln YS, Guba EG.1985. Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
  • Hennink MM, Kaiser BN, Marconi VC. 2017. Code saturation versus meaning saturation: how many interviews are enough? Qual Health Res, 27(4): 591–608.
  • Yildirim A, Simsek H. 2011. Qualitative Research Methods in Social Sciences. 9th Edition. Ankara: Seçkin Publishing.
  • Creswell JW. 2020. Qualitative research methods, qualitative research according to five approaches and research design (Bütün M, Demir SB.) 3. Edition. Siyasal Bookstore.
  • Ceylan H, Yangöz ŞT. Haemodialysis Patients’ Experiences on Complementary and Alternative Therapies: A Qualitative Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 2024; 15(1), 117. Doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1451697.
  • Krefting L. 1991. Rigor in qualitative research: The assessment of trustworthiness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 45, 214-222.
  • Atalla ADG., Mousa MAE-GA, Hashish EAA, Elseesy NAM, Mohamed A, Mohamed SMS. Embracing artificial intelligence in nursing: exploring the relationship between artificial intelligence-related attitudes, creative self-efficacy, and clinical reasoning competency among nurses. BMC Nursing, 2025;24(1). doi:10.1186/s12912-025-03306-3.
  • Wei Q, Pan S, Liu X, Mei H, Nong C, Zhang W. The integration of AI in nursing: addressing current applications, challenges, and future directions. Frontiers in Medicine, 2025;12. Doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1545420.
  • Hassan EA, El‐Ashry AM. Leading with AI in critical care nursing: challenges, opportunities, and the human factor. BMC Nursing, 2024;23(1). Doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02363-4.
  • Pailaha AD. The Impact and Issues of Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Science and Healthcare Settings. SAGE Open Nursing, 2023;9. Doi:10.1177/23779608231196847.
  • Irwin P, Rehman SU, Fealy S, Kornhaber R, Matheson A, Cleary M. Empowering nurses - a practical guide to artificial intelligence tools in healthcare settings: discussion paper. Contemp Nurse. 2025;61(2):203-213. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2025.2459701.
  • Sepúlveda C, Marlin A, Yoshida T, Ullrich A. Palliative Care. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2002;24(2), 91. Doi:10.1016/s0885-3924(02)00440-2.
  • Vigna PM, Castro I de, Fumis RRL. Spirituality alleviates the burden on family members caring for patients receiving palliative care exclusively. BMC Palliative Care, 2020;19(1). Doi:10.1186/s12904-020-00585-2.
  • Weegen K van der, Hoondert MJM, Timmermann M, Heide A van der. Ritualization as Alternative Approach to the Spiritual Dimension of Palliative Care: A Concept Analysis. Journal of Religion and Health, 2019;58(6), 2036. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00792-z.
  • Gijsberts MJ, Liefbroer AI, Otten RHJ, Olsman E. Spiritual Care in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review of the Recent European Literature. Medical Sciences, 2019;7(2), 25. Doi:10.3390/medsci7020025.
  • Celano T, Harris S, Sawyer AT, Hamilton T. Promoting Spiritual Well-Being Among Nurses. Nurse Leader, 2021;20(2), 188. Doi:10.1016/j.mnl.2021.08.002.
  • Lalani N, Duggleby W, Olson J. Spirituality among family caregivers in palliative care: an integrative literature review. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 2018;24(2), 80. Doi:10.12968/ijpn.2018.24.2.80.
  • Karnehed S, Larsson I, Petersson L, Erlandsson L,Tyskbo D. Navigating artificial intelligence in home healthcare: challenges and opportunities in nursing wound care. BMC Nursing, 2025;24(1). Doi:10.1186/s12912-025-03348-7.
  • Ramadan OME, Alruwaili MM, Alruwaili AN, Elsehrawy MG, Alanazi S. Facilitators and barriers to AI adoption in nursing practice: a qualitative study of registered nurses’ perspectives. BMC Nursing, 2024;23(1). Doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02571-y.
  • Kerasidou A. Artificial intelligence and the ongoing need for empathy, compassion and trust in healthcare. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2020;98(4), 245. Doi:10.2471/blt.19.237198.
  • Hassanein S, El Arab RA, Abdrbo A, Abu-Mahfouz MS, Gaballah MKF, Seweid MM, Almari M, Alzghoul H. Artificial intelligence in nursing: an integrative review of clinical and operational impacts. Front Digit Health. 2025;7:1552372. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2025.1552372.
  • Akingbola A, Adeleke O, Idris A, Adewole O, Adegbesan A. Artificial Intelligence and the Dehumanization of Patient Care. Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health, 2024;3, 100138. doi:10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100138
  • Bhagat SV, Kanyal D. Navigating the Future: The Transformative Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Hospital Management- A Comprehensive Review. Cureus. 2024;16(2):e54518. do:10.7759/cureus.54518.

Palyatif Bakım Ünitelerinde Yapay Zeka ve Maneviyat Etkileşimine Hemşirelerin Bakış Açıları: Nitel Bir Araştırma

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 72 - 82, 30.08.2025
https://doi.org/10.56150/tjhsl.1738995

Abstract

Giriş: Sağlık hizmetlerine bütüncül bir yaklaşım olan palyatif bakım, yaşamı sınırlayan hastalıklarla karşı karşıya kalan hastaların ve ailelerin fiziksel, duygusal, sosyal ve manevi ihtiyaçlarını ele alır. Yapay zekanın palyatif bakım üniteleri de dahil olmak üzere sağlık hizmeti ortamlarına entegrasyonu, özellikle bakımın manevi boyutuyla ilgili olarak hem fırsatlar hem de zorluklar sunmaktadır. Hasta bakımının ön saflarında yer alan hemşireler, hastaların manevi ihtiyaçlarını karşılamada, acı ve ölüm karşısında rahatlık, anlam ve umut sağlamada kritik bir rol oynamaktadır.
Amaç: Bu nitel araştırma, palyatif bakım ünitelerinde hemşirelerin yapay zekâ ve maneviyat arasındaki etkileşime ilişkin bakış açılarını keşfetmeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Veri kaynağı olarak palyatif hemşirelerle yapılan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler kullanılarak nitel tanımlayıcı bir araştırma yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Görüşmeler nitel içerik analizi ile analiz edildi ve görüşme sürecinde veri doygunluğuna ulaşıldı. Titizliği sağlamak için, her iki araştırmacı da ses kayıtlarının kelimesi kelimesine transkriptlerinden kilit konuları bağımsız olarak belirledi, ardından tartışma ve ortak değerlendirme yapıldı.
Bulgular: Bu ortamda 4 kapsayıcı ana tema belirledik: (1) Palyatif Bakımda YZ'nin Algılanan Rolü, (2) Palyatif Bakım Hemşireliğinde Maneviyatın Doğası, (3) YZ ve Maneviyatın Kesişiminde Gezinme, (4) Hemşire-Hasta İlişkisi Üzerindeki Etkisi.
Sonuç: Yapay zekanın sağlık hizmetlerine artan entegrasyonu, özellikle bakımın insani ve manevi boyutlarının çok önemli olduğu palyatif bakım gibi hassas alanlarda etkilerinin kapsamlı bir şekilde incelenmesini gerektirmektedir.

References

  • Ceylan H. AI-Enhanced Nursing Education and Clinical Practice: Transforming with Emerging Technologies. OneHealt Plus Journal 2025; 3(1): 1-5.
  • Poalelungi DG, Mușat CL, Fulga A, Neagu M, Neagu A, Piraianu AI, Fulga I. Advancing Patient Care: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Healthcare. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2023;13(8), 1214. Doi:10.3390/jpm13081214.
  • Lee D, Yoon SN. Application of Artificial Intelligence-Based Technologies in the Healthcare Industry: Opportunities and Challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021;18(1), 271. Doi:10.3390/ijerph18010271.
  • Alowais SA, Alghamdi SS, Alsuhebany N, Alqahtani T, Alshaya A, Almohareb SN, Aldairem A, Alrashed M, Saleh KB, Badreldin HA, Yami MSA, Harbi SA, Albekairy A. Revolutionizing healthcare: the role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. BMC Medical Education, 2023; 23(1). Doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04698-z.
  • Avati A, Jung K, Harman S, Downing NL, Ng AY, Shah NH. Improving palliative care with deep learning. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 2018;18. Doi:10.1186/s12911-018-0677-8
  • Miller M, Addicott K, Rosa WE. Spiritual Care as a Core Component of Palliative Nursing. Am J Nurs. 2023;123(2):54-59. Doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000919748.95749.e5.
  • Brown JEH, Halpern J. AI chatbots cannot replace human interactions in the pursuit of more inclusive mental healthcare. SSM - Mental Health, 2021;1, 100017. Doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2021.100017.
  • Momeni G, Hashemi M, Hemati Z. Barriers to Providing Spiritual Care from a Nurses’ Perspective. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 2022;27(6), 575. Doi:10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_422_21.
  • Zhang Z, Wang J. Can AI replace psychotherapists? Exploring the future of mental health care. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024;15. Doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1444382.
  • Smith CE, Kaur A, Gach KZ, Terveen L, Kreitzer MJ, O’Conner-Von S. What is Spiritual Support and How Might It Impact the Design of Online Communities? Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 2021;5, 1. Doi:10.1145/3449117.
  • Selman L, Brighton LJ, Sinclair S, Karvinen I, Egan R, Speck P, Powell RA, Deskur-Śmielecka E, Glajchen M, Adler SR, Puchalski CM, Hunter J, Gikaara N, Hope J. Patients’ and caregivers’ needs, experiences, preferences and research priorities in spiritual care: A focus group study across nine countries. Palliative Medicine, 2017;32(1), 216. Doi:10.1177/0269216317734954.
  • Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. 2007. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (Coreq): a 32‐item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care, 19(6): 349–357.
  • Lincoln YS, Guba EG.1985. Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
  • Hennink MM, Kaiser BN, Marconi VC. 2017. Code saturation versus meaning saturation: how many interviews are enough? Qual Health Res, 27(4): 591–608.
  • Yildirim A, Simsek H. 2011. Qualitative Research Methods in Social Sciences. 9th Edition. Ankara: Seçkin Publishing.
  • Creswell JW. 2020. Qualitative research methods, qualitative research according to five approaches and research design (Bütün M, Demir SB.) 3. Edition. Siyasal Bookstore.
  • Ceylan H, Yangöz ŞT. Haemodialysis Patients’ Experiences on Complementary and Alternative Therapies: A Qualitative Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 2024; 15(1), 117. Doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1451697.
  • Krefting L. 1991. Rigor in qualitative research: The assessment of trustworthiness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 45, 214-222.
  • Atalla ADG., Mousa MAE-GA, Hashish EAA, Elseesy NAM, Mohamed A, Mohamed SMS. Embracing artificial intelligence in nursing: exploring the relationship between artificial intelligence-related attitudes, creative self-efficacy, and clinical reasoning competency among nurses. BMC Nursing, 2025;24(1). doi:10.1186/s12912-025-03306-3.
  • Wei Q, Pan S, Liu X, Mei H, Nong C, Zhang W. The integration of AI in nursing: addressing current applications, challenges, and future directions. Frontiers in Medicine, 2025;12. Doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1545420.
  • Hassan EA, El‐Ashry AM. Leading with AI in critical care nursing: challenges, opportunities, and the human factor. BMC Nursing, 2024;23(1). Doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02363-4.
  • Pailaha AD. The Impact and Issues of Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Science and Healthcare Settings. SAGE Open Nursing, 2023;9. Doi:10.1177/23779608231196847.
  • Irwin P, Rehman SU, Fealy S, Kornhaber R, Matheson A, Cleary M. Empowering nurses - a practical guide to artificial intelligence tools in healthcare settings: discussion paper. Contemp Nurse. 2025;61(2):203-213. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2025.2459701.
  • Sepúlveda C, Marlin A, Yoshida T, Ullrich A. Palliative Care. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2002;24(2), 91. Doi:10.1016/s0885-3924(02)00440-2.
  • Vigna PM, Castro I de, Fumis RRL. Spirituality alleviates the burden on family members caring for patients receiving palliative care exclusively. BMC Palliative Care, 2020;19(1). Doi:10.1186/s12904-020-00585-2.
  • Weegen K van der, Hoondert MJM, Timmermann M, Heide A van der. Ritualization as Alternative Approach to the Spiritual Dimension of Palliative Care: A Concept Analysis. Journal of Religion and Health, 2019;58(6), 2036. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00792-z.
  • Gijsberts MJ, Liefbroer AI, Otten RHJ, Olsman E. Spiritual Care in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review of the Recent European Literature. Medical Sciences, 2019;7(2), 25. Doi:10.3390/medsci7020025.
  • Celano T, Harris S, Sawyer AT, Hamilton T. Promoting Spiritual Well-Being Among Nurses. Nurse Leader, 2021;20(2), 188. Doi:10.1016/j.mnl.2021.08.002.
  • Lalani N, Duggleby W, Olson J. Spirituality among family caregivers in palliative care: an integrative literature review. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 2018;24(2), 80. Doi:10.12968/ijpn.2018.24.2.80.
  • Karnehed S, Larsson I, Petersson L, Erlandsson L,Tyskbo D. Navigating artificial intelligence in home healthcare: challenges and opportunities in nursing wound care. BMC Nursing, 2025;24(1). Doi:10.1186/s12912-025-03348-7.
  • Ramadan OME, Alruwaili MM, Alruwaili AN, Elsehrawy MG, Alanazi S. Facilitators and barriers to AI adoption in nursing practice: a qualitative study of registered nurses’ perspectives. BMC Nursing, 2024;23(1). Doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02571-y.
  • Kerasidou A. Artificial intelligence and the ongoing need for empathy, compassion and trust in healthcare. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2020;98(4), 245. Doi:10.2471/blt.19.237198.
  • Hassanein S, El Arab RA, Abdrbo A, Abu-Mahfouz MS, Gaballah MKF, Seweid MM, Almari M, Alzghoul H. Artificial intelligence in nursing: an integrative review of clinical and operational impacts. Front Digit Health. 2025;7:1552372. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2025.1552372.
  • Akingbola A, Adeleke O, Idris A, Adewole O, Adegbesan A. Artificial Intelligence and the Dehumanization of Patient Care. Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health, 2024;3, 100138. doi:10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100138
  • Bhagat SV, Kanyal D. Navigating the Future: The Transformative Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Hospital Management- A Comprehensive Review. Cureus. 2024;16(2):e54518. do:10.7759/cureus.54518.
There are 35 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects ​Internal Diseases Nursing​
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Hatice Ceylan 0000-0001-6423-6010

Publication Date August 30, 2025
Submission Date July 10, 2025
Acceptance Date August 24, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 8 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Ceylan, H. (2025). Nurses’ Perspectives on The Interaction of Artificial Intelligence and Spirituality In Palliative Care Units: A Qualitative Research. Turkish Journal of Health Science and Life, 8(2), 72-82. https://doi.org/10.56150/tjhsl.1738995