Spiritual Aspects of Rehabilitation Nutrition: A Position Paper by the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition (Secondary Publication)

This article is an official position paper that summarizes current evidence and offers recommendations for spiritual care in rehabilitation nutrition. Spirituality is defined as pertaining to the fundamental questions and desires of human existence, encompassing meaning, purpose, dignity, and connection. Spiritual pain is a state of lost meaning related to temporality, relationship, autonomy, and independence, manifesting due to end-of-life, permanent disability, and loss. Rehabilitation nutrition plays a vital role in alleviating this pain by supporting functions, nutritional status, and the patient's sense of meaning and hope. Practice involves interdisciplinary collaboration utilizing specific approaches related to the four dimensions, such as active listening and empathy, presence, maintaining hope, and fostering gratitude and forgiveness. To implement this holistic care effectively, education and training for healthcare workers are required, emphasizing respect for both the patient's and their own spiritual aspects. Ultimately, incorporating spiritual care into rehabilitation nutrition is crucial for improving patient well-being.