Curare lo spirito : l'integrazione della spiritualità nella pratica clinica

The topic of spirituality and its integration in the clinical setting has entered the nursing sciences debate in recent years. Despite the recognition of the relevance of the spiritual dimension in the experience of illness, there are still few sociological studies and applications in the field, both in Italy and internationally. This article aims at reconstructing the state of the art on spirituality in clinical practice, on the tools developed for the identification of patients' spiritual needs and on the implementation of spiritual care interventions in the hospital context. In the conclusions, the specific contribution that social sciences can make to the nursing will be highlighted with regard to the theoretical debate on spiritual care, the methodological issues concering its empirical implementation and the reflection on the therapeutic model followed by healthcare professionals in their relationship with patients.[Publisher's text]