Determination of the spiritual well-being levels of physicians and nurses: An example of a training and research hospital

This study aims to determine the spiritual well-being levels of physicians and nurses working in a training and research hospital, using a descriptive and cross-sectional approach. The sample consists of a total of 278 participants, including physicians (n=123) and nurses (n=155) working at Istanbul Training and Research Hospital. The study was conducted between March 1 and December 31, 2023. Data were collected using the "Three-Factor Spiritual Well-Being Scale" and the "Nurse and Physician Personal Information Form." The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows 25.0. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Post-Hoc tests were used for comparing data with normal distribution. The Bonferroni test was employed to identify significant data differences. In the study, the average Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) score for physicians was found to be 105.9±13.46, and for nurses, it was 115.21±13.09. Significant differences were found between the SWBS, Transcendence, Harmony with Nature sub-dimensions, and demographic and work characteristics (p<0.05). The research shows that demographic and socio-economic factors have similar effects on spiritual well-being in both professional groups. The findings indicate that younger nurses have lower levels of spiritual well-being in harmony with nature, and women have higher spiritual well-being levels than men. Economic status and working conditions, especially low income, have a negative impact on nurses' spiritual well-being, while showing different results for physicians. The study also notes the influence of career choice, job satisfaction, and education level on spiritual well-being. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual well-being of health professionals on personal health and service quality, and the need for developing supportive policies in this area.