The relationship between spiritual intelligence and attitudes toward spirituality and spiritual care of nurses: a cross-sectional study

Abstract The Relationship between Spiritual Intelligence and Attitudes toward Spirituality and Spiritual Care of Nurses: a cross-sectional study Background: The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between spiritual intelligence and attitudes toward spirituality and spiritual care of nurses. Methods: This correlational, cross-sectional study was carried out on 193 nurses (in Iran) that selected using census sampling method. Data were collected using spiritual intelligence self-report inventory (SISRI) designed by King (2008) and spirituality and spiritual care rating scale (SSCRS) developed by Mc Sherry et al., (2002). Then, data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tests in SPSS software (ver. 16, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The results showed that mean ± SD of nurses' spiritual intelligence score (45.83 ± 61.14) was above average and mean score of spirituality and spiritual care (61.45 ± 30.12) was at moderate level. A positive and significant relationship was found between mean spiritual intelligence score and nurses' attitude towards spirituality and spiritual care (r = 0.764, and p < 0.001). According to the results of the regression analysis of the four dimensions of spiritual intelligence, transcendental awareness (beta = 0.471) followed by critical existential thinking (beta = 0.371) were the most important predictors. Conclusion: According to the research results, there was a significant and positive relationship between spiritual intelligence and attitudes toward spirituality and spiritual care. Therefore, it is necessary to include the training of spiritual intelligence in the nursing curriculum and fostering spiritual awareness and existential awareness through methods such as case studies and workshops should be considered as in-service nursing education.