Effectiveness of Spiritual Education Courses in Enhancing Spiritual Well-being and Care Competence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nursing Professionals

Background Spirituality is essential in nursing, where addressing patients' spiritual needs is key to comprehensive care. Spiritual health courses are widely introduced, but their effectiveness in improving nursing professionals' spiritual well-being and care competencies varies. This review assessed their impact on nursing staff and students, focusing on differential outcomes and optimal timing during education or practice. Methods A comprehensive search of databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Scopus) up to October 31, 2024, identified 406 articles, with seven randomized controlled trials meeting inclusion criteria. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers per PRISMA guidelines and analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Subgroup analyses explored differences between nursing staff and students. Results The analysis included 657 participants from three countries. Overall, spiritual health courses showed moderate and significant effects (pooled effect size: 1.275, 95% CI: 0.355–2.194, p = 0.007). Interventions had a greater impact on spiritual care competence (effect size: 1.479) than spiritual well-being (effect size: 0.752). Nursing professionals benefited more in spiritual care, while students showed moderate but consistent improvements in spiritual well-being. Conclusion Tailored spiritual education, aligned with participants' professional experience and educational stage, is essential to optimize outcomes. Future research should focus on standardizing programs, enhancing cultural adaptability, and investigating long-term impacts on holistic nursing care to foster resilience and improve patient care quality.