Integrating Chronic Kidney Disease Patient’s Spirituality in Their Care: Health Benefits and Research Perspectives

INTRODUCTION Patients who suffer from chronic renal disease face problems in many aspects of their life; problems such as physical and social as well as mental such as stress, anxiety, depression. In addition, they exhibit an amount of spiritual needs, which relate and influence the psychological adaptation to the illness. AIM The aim of this article is to examine evidence from the international literature regarding the possible relation of spirituality and health outcomes, mostly in the complex codex of a chronic and life treathing disease such as CKD. RESULTS Spirituality is a very debatable issue and the term has no single and widely agreed definition. The key components of spirituality were 'meaning', 'hope', 'relatedness/connectedness', and 'beliefs/beliefs systems'. Spirituality has been characterized as the quest for meaning in life, mainly through experiences and expressions of mind, in a unique and dynamic process different for each individual. For many individuals spirituality and religion are important aspects of their existence, constituting a source support contribute to wellbeing and coping with life's daily difficulties. CONCLUSION Considering, assessing and addressing chronic kidney disease patient's spirituality and spiritual needs is necessary and it can have a positive outcome in health related quality of life, mental health and life expectancy.