SPIRITUALITY AND SENSE OF WELL-BEING FOR PATIENT WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS: RESEARCH PROPOSAL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE BY CHRISTINA L. CIESLIK

Individuals with terminal illnesses have an increased need for spiritual care. It has been found that well-being and spirituality have a positive relationship to physical responses to illness can impact an individual's sense of well-being (Meraviglia, 2004). The purpose of this predictive study is to examine relationships among spirituality, meaning of life and prayer and a sense of well-being of physical and psychological responses after a diagnosis of a terminal illness. This study is a modified replication of Meraviglia (2004) study. Frankl's motivational theory of meaning is the framework. The four instruments are: Life Attitude Profile-Revised (patients meaning, purpose in life and motivation to find meaning), the Adapted Prayer Scale (types of prayer activity, prayer experiences, and attitudes toward prayer), Index of Well-Being (psychological well-being) and Symptom Distress Scale (degree of discomfort. Findings will provide information regarding spiritual care needs of terminally ill patients.