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The spiritual strength story in end-of-life care: Two case studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2011

Robert G. Mundle
Robert G. Mundle*
Affiliation:
St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital site, Providence Care, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Robert G. Mundle, St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital site, Providence Care, 340 Union Street, Kingston, ON K7L 5A2 Canada. E-mail: robert.mundle@utoronto.ca
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Abstract

In this article I analyze two brief case studies to propose that a “spiritual strength story” has five defining characteristics: (1) it is brief; (2) it is ontological; (3) it uses symbols and metaphors; (4) it is a “big story” or meta-narrative with a positive spiritual and/or religious focus that informs other narrative data; and (5) most conspicuously of all, it repeats. Cultivating awareness of the “spiritual strength” narrative type can help to improve the quality of inter-professional patient-centered care teamwork and understanding, especially in regard to the reflexive, embodied, and relational aspects of palliative and end-of-life care.

Keywords

Health care professionalsInterpellationListeningMetaphor/symbolismNarrative inquiryReligion/spirituality
Type
Case Report
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 419 - 424
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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