Introduction: Hepatitis B is the most prevalent viral infection in human and is followed by several physical, mental and social complications. Spiritual beliefs are effective in having a purposeful life and managing chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to understand and demonstrate the experiences of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in terms of spirituality and spiritual values in life.
Methods: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted on 18 patients with HBV, selected using purposeful sampling. In-depth and unstructured interviews were used for data collection. The interviews were recorded, scripted word by word and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach.
Findings: By investigating the interviews and analyzing the data, "spirituality" emerged as the main theme along with four sub-themes including "illness as the divine destiny", "closeness to God", "awakeness of conscience" and "growth and prosperity".
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate the importance of spiritual experiences of patients with HBV and considering the spirituality in life can be an effective help to accept the disease and a proper backing in order to improve physical, mental and social health. Consequently, it is recommended that the managers and personnel in providing healthcare services should pay a special attention to patients' spiritual experiences and include them in routine care program.