Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume 40, Issue 2 , Pages 163-173, August 2010

Evaluation of the FICA Tool for Spiritual Assessment

  • Tami Borneman, RN, MSN, CNS, FPCN

      Affiliations

    • Division of Nursing Research and Education, Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
    • ,
  • Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, MA, FAAN, FPCN

      Affiliations

    • Division of Nursing Research and Education, Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, MA, FAAN, FPCN, Division of Nursing Research and Education, Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
    • ,
  • Christina M. Puchalski, MD, MS, FACP

      Affiliations

    • The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
    • School of Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
    • School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

Accepted 19 January 2010. published online 09 July 2010.

Abstract 

Context

The National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care includes spiritual care as one of the eight clinical practice domains. There are very few standardized spirituality history tools.

Objectives

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility for the Faith, Importance and Influence, Community, and Address (FICA) Spiritual History Tool in clinical settings. Correlates between the FICA qualitative data and quality of life (QOL) quantitative data also were examined to provide additional insight into spiritual concerns.

Methods

The framework of the FICA tool includes Faith or belief, Importance of spirituality, individual's spiritual Community, and interventions to Address spiritual needs. Patients with solid tumors were recruited from ambulatory clinics of a comprehensive cancer center. Items assessing aspects of spirituality within the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy QOL tools were used, and all patients were assessed using the FICA. The sample (n=76) had a mean age of 57, and almost half were of diverse religions.

Results

Most patients rated faith or belief as very important in their lives (mean 8.4; 0–10 scale). FICA quantitative ratings and qualitative comments were closely correlated with items from the QOL tools assessing aspects of spirituality.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that the FICA tool is a feasible tool for clinical assessment of spirituality. Addressing spiritual needs and concerns in clinical settings is critical in enhancing QOL. Additional use and evaluation by clinicians of the FICA Spiritual Assessment Tool in usual practice settings are needed.

Key Words: Spiritual care, FICA assessment tool, clinical evaluation

 

PII: S0885-3924(10)00325-8

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.12.019

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume 40, Issue 2 , Pages 163-173, August 2010

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