Analysis of the nature of Spiritual Pain in terminal patients and the resignification process through the relaxation, mental images and spirituality (RIME) intervention

• Published in: Revista latino-americana de enfermagem Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 959 - 965
• Main Authors: Elias, Ana Catarina Araújo, Giglio, Joel Sales, Pimenta, Cibele Andrucioli de Mattos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Imagery (Psychotherapy); Male; Middle Aged; NURSING; Relaxation Therapy; Spiritual Therapies; Spirituality; Stress, Psychological - therapy; Terminally Ill - psychology; terapias complementares; psicoterapia breve; pain; experiências de quase morte; death; humanization of assistance; terapias complementarias; dor; relaxation techniques; técnicas de relajación; humanização da assistência; near-death experience; spirituality; dolor; psychotherapy, brief; morte; complementary therapies; experiencias de casi muerte; hospice care; humanización de la atención; cuidados paliativos; espiritualidad; espiritualidade; técnicas de relaxamento
• ISSN: 0104-1169; 1518-8345; 0104-1169
• DOI: 10.1590/s0104-11692008000600004

To understand Spiritual Pain and the new meaning it takes on using the RIME intervention. Eleven terminally ill patients (n=11), treated at public hospitals, received care from six professionals trained for RIME application. The methods used were both qualitative, through phenomenology, and quantitative, based on the descriptive method, using the Wilcoxon Test. In the qualitative approach, six categories and eleven subcategories were found. The prevailing categories were: fear of dying by denying the severity of the clinical condition (n=5); fear of dying by realizing the severity of the clinical condition (n=5); fear of postmortem due to disintegration or feeling of non-existence, of being affectively forgotten (n=5). In the quantitative analysis, a statistically significant difference (p<0.0001) was noted. The results suggested that RIME promoted quality of life in the dying process, as well as more serenity and dignity in the face of death.