The “Spiritual Care in Health Services Symposium,” organized by our Faculty of Health Sciences, brought together experts in the field through sessions addressing interdisciplinary approaches.
The “Spiritual Care in Health Services Symposium,” organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, brought together academics and experts in the field at IZU. The program was attended by IZU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük, Bezmiâlem Vakıf University Rector Prof. Dr. Adem Akçakaya, Demiroğlu Bilim University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Birkan Tapan, IZU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Erhan İçener and Prof. Dr. Nihat Erdoğmuş, as well as academics, students, and healthcare professionals from many universities.
Küçük: “Not Only a Professional Duty, but a Human Responsibility”
In his opening speech at the Abdullah Tivnikli Conference Hall, IZU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük drew attention to the change in societies’ understanding of health from past to present. Stating that the need for psychological and spiritual support has increased today, Rector Küçük emphasized the importance of empathy, a human-centered approach, and spiritual support in healthcare services. Prof. Küçük stated: “The issue of spiritual care in healthcare services has been gaining increasing importance, especially in today’s world. While in the past we as a society focused more on our basic needs, today we clearly see that the need for psychological and spiritual support has increased. Being able to empathize in healthcare services, placing the individual at the center, and considering their spiritual dimension are extremely valuable. It is particularly important that young healthcare professionals are trained with this awareness. It should not be forgotten that the work carried out is not only a professional duty but also a human responsibility.”
Bahçecik: “Collaboration of Different Disciplines is of Great Importance”
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ayşe Nefise Bahçecik, emphasized that human health is not limited to the physical dimension and stated that psychosocial and spiritual elements also play a decisive role in health processes. Noting that spiritual care directly affects patients’ quality of life, Dean Bahçecik said: “Meeting not only the physical but also the psychological, social, and especially spiritual needs of the patient directly affects the quality of treatment, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. Spiritual care involves supporting the individual during difficult processes such as pain, anxiety, and fear of death, offering a compassionate approach, and preserving human dignity. At this point, the collaboration of different disciplines is of great importance.”
Şengül: “Spiritual Care is a Human Responsibility”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Şengül, Head of the Department of Health Management at the Faculty of Health Sciences, stated that spiritual care is an important concept expressing the world of meaning and noted that global humanitarian tragedies should not be ignored. Emphasizing that spiritual care also carries a human responsibility for professionals working in the field of health, Assoc. Prof. Şengül stated that belief sees keeping a person alive as equivalent to keeping all humanity alive.
Spirituality and Health Discussed by Academics and Experts
At the symposium, Specialist Dr. Nedim Havle from Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital drew attention to the increasing importance of spiritual care in healthcare services in his conference titled “Spirituality and Health: A Multidisciplinary Perspective.”
The program continued throughout the day in three main sessions. In the first session, the topic “Spiritual Care in Clinical Applications and Professional Practice” was discussed. The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mehveş Tarım and Prof. Dr. Ayşe Nefise Bahçecik. Prof. Dr. Birkan Tapan addressed spiritual competency training for healthcare professionals, Prof. Dr. Kürşad Türkdoğan discussed the role of physicians in the spiritual care process, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zülfünaz Özer presented the nursing perspective, and Prof. Dr. Adem Akçakaya discussed palliative and end-of-life spiritual care.
The second session, titled “Spiritual Care through Psychological, Meaning-Based, and Counseling Approaches,” was chaired by Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur and Specialist Dr. Nedim Havle. In this session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faruk Kanger shared a meaning- and purpose-oriented approach and examples of Islamic-referenced bibliotherapy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra Türk discussed the role of religious officials in spiritual care and counseling, and Dr. Lecturer Mehmet Gedik evaluated the place of spiritually based social services in healthcare systems.
In the final session of the day, the topic “Spiritual Care from Social, Institutional, and Legal Perspectives” was discussed. The session was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Şengül and Dr. Lecturer Semanur Kumral Özçelik. Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur addressed the importance of spiritual care in terms of public health, Prof. Dr. Yeter Demir Uslu discussed healthcare management and organizational support dimensions, Prof. Dr. Mehveş Tarım presented global models, and Prof. Dr. Kadriye Kart Yaşar addressed the human rights and legal aspects of spiritual care.