Pietermaritzburg charismatic Christian pastors’ conceptualizations of major neurocognitive disorder (dementia)

Abstract

Background: Religion and spirituality are essential affiliations people with Major Neurocognitive Disorder (dementia) depend on for better health outcomes and better adjustments with this diagnosis. Pastors are key role players in providing spiritual care. While they engage in this process, interacting and delivering care for these individuals, they develop conceptions about this illness. As a result, their pastoral role may be shaped by these conceptions, and they employ a set of religious practices to manage this illness. Aim: To explore Charismatic Christian pastors’ conceptions about dementia. To explore the influence of conceptions of dementia on how pastors might provide care to people with dementia and their caregivers. To explore the role played by religious practices in managing dementia. Methods: An exploratory research design and a qualitative approach were adopted. Six Charismatic Christian pastors from Pietermaritzburg were sampled through non-probability sampling, and a snowballing technique was employed. The research adopted the explanatory models of illness as a theoretical framework, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Dementia is conceptualized as an illness associated with cognitive deterioration caused by emotional distress. Pastors’ role, amongst others, is to share the knowledge they have about dementia with misinformed communities. Religious practices appear to be effective measures put in place to manage the severity of this disease. Conclusion: This study shows that reliance on religious and spiritual avenues for people with dementia resulted in positive outcomes. Two recommendations are made: 1) a collaborative treatment approach and 2) further research on the emotional distress-dementia relationship and underlying socio-cultural aspects.