Spiritual Care Needs and Perceived Social Support in Women Undergoing Hysterectomy: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Objective: Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in gynecology worldwide. It is directly related to a woman's fertility, and removal of the uterus could have irreparable psychological, physiological, and sexual consequences. This study aims to determine the relationship between spiritual care needs and perceived social support in women who underwent hysterectomy surgery. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional and correlational design and included a total of 272 women who underwent hysterectomy in the surgical clinic of a hospital located in western Turkey. Data were collected through the Personal Information Form, the Spiritual Care Needs Inventory (SCNI), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: Women's SCNI total mean score was found 62.01, MSPSS total mean score was found 70.72. Among MSPSS and SCNI sub-scales, a negative correlation was detected between MSPSS and the "caring and respect" sub-scale of SCNI (p <.05). The linear regression analysis showed that spiritual support needs sub-scales of "meaning and hope" (beta= .221, p<.01) and "caring and respect" (beta= - .271, p<.001) were found to be related factors affecting the perceived social support of women who underwent hysterectomy. The caring and respect sub-scale decreased with the increase in the women's perceived social support. Conclusion: In conclusion, evaluation and reinforcement of the spiritual support needs and perceived social support of women who underwent hysterectomy are recommended as the foundation of holistic care.