The patients reported needs for emotional support, family support, loneliness/need for connection and religious needs. The finding that patients with brain tumour express spiritual needs of loneliness and a need for connection supports previous research findings that neuro-oncology patients experience depression, isolation and a feeling of being deserted (Strang & Strang 2001, Strang et al. 2002). Patients identified a need for reassurance and solitude. It is interesting that both solitude and loneliness were identified as spiritual needs with solitude identified as the positive extreme of being alone. The finding with regard to the participants’ feelings that oscillate from loneliness to solitude is unique to this study because other studies have not identified this experience featuring in patients with cancer. Patients who value peace and solitude may appreciate being left alone so they can experience this. Nurses need to be sensitive to
patients who need solitude and create time and space for patients to experience peace and quiet. In the acute neurosurgical setting, this is likely to be problematic as the constant activities in such an environment inevitably lead to intrusion into the patient’s space. It would be difficult to reduce levels of activity as the patients’ physical condition in this setting requires high levels of input. Patients who express a need for solitude may be indicating that they do not wish healthcare professionals to be involved in their spiritual care and nurses need to respect this. Dossey (1993) believes that patients generally want to keep their spiritual feelings private and are not willing to share these feelings with medical staff. It should be noted, however, that Dossey’s theories are based on working with strongly religious patients who are likely to have access to spiritual support through their religious community.