Joy as an aspect of the spirituality of patient care volunteers at the Cancer Association of South Africa: a multi-dimensional approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to address the tension between CANSA’s two governance core pillars, namely service delivery and sustainability, by introducing spiritual transformation understood as restoration of the Divine-human relationship towards new opportunities, possibilities, and initiatives. The focus of this study was on the link between spiritual transformation and the service of volunteers in cancer patient care. A holistic view on health care was proposed in order to promote ‘spiritual wholeness’ in healthcare transformation. A quadrangular multidimensional approach examined the origins and scope of joy as an aspect of spiritual transformation in the societal (CANSA), Theological (Qohelet), healthcare1 sciences as well as African2 spiritual epistemology. It was argued that CANSA’s holistic vision should be viewed as a process of joymotion. Lessons learned can be utilised to shape and sharpen CANSA’s Patient care volunteers if adapted towards being human in healthcare.

Die doel van die studie was om die spanning tussen KANSA se twee bestuurspilare naamlik dienslewering en volhoubaarheid aan te spreek deur spirituele transformasie –hier verstaan as die herstel van die God-mens verhouding met die oog op nuwe geleenthede, moontlikhede en inisiatiewe. Die fokus van die studie was die skakel tussen spirituele transformasie en dienste van kanker Pasiëntsorg Vrywilligers. ‘n Holistiese perspektief op gesondheidsorg was voorgestel om ‘spirituele heelheid’ in die transformasie van gesondheidsdienste te bevorder. ‘n Multidimensionale vierhoekige benadering het die oorsprong en omvang van vreugde as ‘n aspek van spirituele transformasie ondersoek – in sosiale (KANSA), teologiese (Qohelet), gesondheidsorg wetenskappe, sowel as Afrika spirituele epistemologie. Verder is geargumenteer dat ‘n vreugdeproses in KANSA se holistiese visie onderskei moet word. Insigte kan KANSA se Pasiëntsorg vrywilligers help vorm en slyp wat sal bydra tot meer menslikheid in gesondheidsorg. “The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet and learn to be at home” (Berry 1971, 34) 1Health