Spirituality and job satisfaction among hospice interdisciplinary team members

As a continuing effort to enhance the quality of palliative care for the dying, this study examined (1) the prevalence of spirituality among hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) members; ( 2) whether spirituality is related to job satisfaction; and (3) the structural path relationships among four variables: spiritual belief, integration of spirituality at work, self actualization and job satisfaction. The study surveyed 215 hospice IDT members who completed the Jarel Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Chamiec-Case Spirituality Integration and Job Satisfaction Scales. Multiple regression and structural path modeling methods were applied to explain the path relationships involving all four variables. The IDT members surveyed were: nurses, 46.4%; home health aids, 24.9%; social workers, 17.4%; chaplains, 4.2%; physicians, 2.3%; and other, 4.8%. Ninety-eight percent of the respondents viewed themselves as having spiritual well-being. On a 0 - 100 scale, IDT staff reported high spiritual belief (mean=89.4) and they were self-actualizing (mean=82.6). Most reported high job satisfaction (mean=79.3) and spiritual integration (mean=67.9). In multiple regression, spirituality, integration and self-actualization explained 22% of the variation in job satisfaction (R=0.48; adjusted R-2=0.218; df=3,175; F=17.2; p=0.001). Structural path models revealed that job satisfaction is more likely to be realized by a model that transforms one's spirituality into processes of integrating spirituality at work and self actualization (X-2=0.614; df=1; p=0.433) than a model that establishes a direct path from spirituality to job satisfaction (X-2=1.65; df=1; p=0.199). Hospice IDT member's integration of their spirituality at work and greater self actualization significantly improve job satisfaction.