Existential, spiritual, and religious communication in adults with chronic non-malignant pain: a scoping review

This research project is a scoping review investigating how healthcare professionals address existential, spiritual, and religious dimensions through communication in adults with chronic non-malignant pain. Chronic pain is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional condition affecting not only physical functioning but also identity, meaning, hope, and psychological well-being. Despite this, existential and spiritual aspects remain inconsistently integrated into routine care, particularly outside oncology settings. The purpose of the study will be to map and synthesize the existing literature on clinicians’ communication practices related to these dimensions. The review will follow Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework, the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for scoping reviews, and the PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. Eligible studies will be identified through systematic database searches and screened according to predefined inclusion criteria. The expected outcomes will include clarifying current gaps in chronic pain care, informing the development of educational strategies, encouraging clearer professional guidance, and identifying priorities for future research aimed at integrating existential communication into multidisciplinary chronic pain management.