The Role of Spiritual Communication in Management of Health Services during the Biological Crisis of COVID-19

Disruption in the physical- psychological- social- spiritual health of patients and the psychological consequences resulting from the biological crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic requires the management of health services. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of spiritual communication in health services management during the biological crisis of COVID-19.

This qualitative study was conducted from April 2020 to July 2021 at Baqiyatallah Military Hospital in Tehran, by using "Strauss and Corbin's grounded systematic theory". To identify the central phenomenon, causal conditions, background factors, intervening factors, strategies, consequences, and their relationships, in-depth interviews with 22 patients and hospital staff, field observations, and a comprehensive review of the report were conducted. The data were analyzed in three stages open, central, and selective coding by using the MAXQDA software.

Spiritual communication had an impact on the health services management. The main strategy of patients and the treatment team in dealing with the biological crisis was the use of medical treatments, along with trust in God and appeal to imams. Safe attachment to God, as a health-giving relationship, by affecting other relationships (with self, people, and nature) optimized the management of health services. Communication with God as a central phenomenon, increases spiritual attitude, spiritual self-awareness, spiritual motivation, resilience, and adaptability. It also strengthens the social relations of the treatment team with patients and families, professional commitment, empathy, cooperation, sacrifice, and courage in the face of crisis. Communication with the environment and people caused socio-spiritual support.

Considering the impact of safe attachment to God on optimizing the health services management in the COVID-19 crisis, it is necessary to provide spiritual health services in Iranian hospitals by trained health system employees.