Introduction: The research shows that Australian clients want their health professionals to discuss spirituality with them, yet Australian healthcare literature presents diverse approaches to spirituality. From robust assessment, training, and guidelines to it not being discussed, the ways in which health professionals address client spirituality is profession and context specific. To further understand the literature, a scoping review was undertaken.

 

Objective: The study had three objectives:  

1.         How do Australian health professionals define key spirituality concepts? 

2.         How do Australian health professionals ask about and respond to their clients' spirituality? 

3.         What are the key facilitators and barriers? 

 

 

Method: A scoping review using the JBI methodology was selected to map a broad range of literature and understand the need for further research. Medline, Psycinfo, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL databases were searched, and 65 studies were identified.

 

Results: Data extracted from included articles were organised into themes including definitions of spirituality terms, ways that spirituality is discussed with clients, and the most frequently reported facilitators and barriers. Palliative care led the way in producing the most spirituality literature of any specialty, however it became apparent that this sector had unique ways of approaching spirituality.  This included many examples of 'relating skills', but only general information regarding how to adapt care for a client's spiritual, cultural and/or religious preferences. 

 

Conclusion: This research gives insight into how a range of Australian health professions are defining and talking about spirituality with clients, and what makes these conversations easier and harder. Findings from this scoping review demonstrate that palliative care are the trailblazers in integrating spirituality into practice. Future directions for palliative care research into spirituality will be explored.