Spirituality and Religiosity in Brazilian and American Older Adults, Characteristics and Nursing Care Approach

Chair(s)

• 

  Angelo Jose Bós, MD, PhD (he/him/his)

  Professor
  School of Medicine
  Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
  Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

  Slides

Discussant(s)

• 

  Amelia Gallagher, M.A., BSN - student

  Student
  Nursing and Theology
  The University of Alabama in Huntsville
  Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Monica Beck, PhD, RN, OCN, CNE (she/her/hers)

  Assistant Professor
  College of Nursing
  University of Alabama in Huntsville
  Huntsville, Alabama, United States

  Slides
• Yd

  Yolanda de Souza (she/her/hers)

  Student
  School of Medicine
  Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
  Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

  Slides

This symposium aims to understand two aspects of spirituality and religiosity: the importance of religiosity for older adults, in a population-based study, and a proposal approach for nursing care in cancer patients: Lift the Spirit approach. In the Brazilian study, we will show that religiosity is significantly associated with sex, race, level of education, perceived health status and non-transmittable chronic diseases, including cancer. The results evidence the important role of religious faith in the Brazilian older adult’s health. We concluded that religion and spiritual approaches should always be considered for older adults. In the American study, we will show that preliminary findings suggested Lift the Spirit was feasible, acceptable, and positively impacted knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy. The innovative combination of synchronous and asynchronous online delivery of the intervention and data collection methods has implications for research, education, and clinical practice. Lift the Spirit delivered on an entirely online format is widely accessible and convenient to researchers, educators, and practitioners, as well as participants and students. Equipping nurses to conduct spiritual histories through an intervention like Lift the Spirit is crucial to overcoming a significant barrier to providing spiritual care.

Presentations:

• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

  Intervention Development Using Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines Concerning Spirituality
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Monica L. Beck, PhD, RN, OCN, CNE (she/her/hers) – University of Alabama in Huntsville
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

  Exploring Facilitators and Barriers to Conducting Spiritual Histories in Older Adults
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Monica L. Beck, PhD, RN, OCN, CNE (she/her/hers) – University of Alabama in Huntsville
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

  Faith is Significantly Associated to Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics in Brazilian Older Adults
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Yolanda A. de Souza (she/her/hers) – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

  How Important Is It to Pray and Meditate for Brazilian Older Adults? Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Yolanda A. de Souza (she/her/hers) – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul