[The influence of spirituality at the beginning and at the end of life. Study from the perspective of nursing professionals].

Spirituality is the human dimension that helps human beings to reflect about their own existence, to try to answer to questions like: what are we living for? This search of meaning is still more pronounced in those who suffer an advanced and incurable disease. This clear need is nevertheless not always acknowledge by the patient, making it difficult to detect and manage it in the daily care by healthcare professionals. In an effort to establish an effective therapeutic relationship, they have to keep in mind also this spiritual dimension, already integrated in the concept of comprehensive care and usually offered to all patients, especially in those who are at the end of life.