Definitions in Context. Conceptual

Definitions in Context. Conceptual clarity in part results from the mixed and sometimes competing goals of defining spirituality for clinical and research contexts. In a clinical setting, the goal is to honor individuality, promote conversations, capture the breadth of experience of spirituality, and emphasize similarities rather than distinctions. In clinical care, constructs may overlap with other constructs; for example, spiritual and emotional concerns are often related, and conversation of one elicits expression of another. However, language that is useful in clinical settings may have less applicability in research settings where discriminative abilities of measurement are necessary. In a research context, operational definitions must be unambiguous, and constructs must be distinct and unique.Hence, recommendations regarding definitions (Table 3) include that research within spirituality and palliative care should be based on a clearly conceptualized definition of spirituality fitting to the research question and context. Additionally, the specific dimensions of spirituality under investigation should be articulated, operationalized, and matched with appropriate measures.