Table 2 Spiritual Needs Model: dimensions of spirituality and corresponding needs in hospitalized patients

Meaning

The dimension that provides orientation to an individual's life and promotes his or her overall life balance.

The Need for life balance: The need to rebuild a new life balance and the need to learn how to better cope with illness or disability.

Transcendence

An anchor point exterior to the person; the relationship with an external foundation that provides a sense of grounding. The group considered that everyone has an external foundation, even if different from God. For example, for some people, this transcendence might be found in nature, beauty, or art.

The Need for connection: The need for connection with his or her existential foundation and the need for Beauty (aesthetic sense).

Values

The system of values that determines goodness and trueness for the person; it is made apparent in the person's actions and life choices.

*The Need for values acknowledgement: The need that health professionals know and respect one's values.

*The Need to maintain control: The need to understand and to feel included in decision-making processes and to be associated with health professionals' decisions and actions.

Psycho-social Identity

The patient's environment; those elements, such as society, caregivers, family, and close relationships that together make up the person's singular identity.

The Need to maintain identity: The need to be loved, to be heard, to be recognized, to be in touch, to have a positive image of oneself and to feel forgiven.