Validation of the spirituality screening tool ConnecTo

<strong>Objectives:</strong> This research sought to determine the validity of the <em>ConnecTo</em> spirituality screening tool. This tool was developed to enable care providers to gain some understanding of the spirituality of older people entering residential aged care or receiving a home care package. It has been used successfully since 2017 when it underwent considerable testing in its developmental stage but had not been formally validated. <strong>Methods:</strong> With the assistance of 15 aged care service providers, 56 older people were interviewed by 15 aged care professionals who were spiritual carers. A mixed-methods, triangulated approach was used for this project. Participants were invited to respond about the extent to which they found spiritual domains important in two sub-tools of <em>ConnecTo </em>(Spectrum Version and Visual Map). They also completed a 12-item validated spiritual assessment tool, FACIT-Sp-12. At the same time, participants gave verbal responses relating to the importance of the five domains of their spirituality. These responses were compared through manual analysis with the quantitative results and comments by the interviewers. <strong>Results:</strong> There was positive correlation between the two sub-tools (Spectrum Version and Visual Map) and the validated FACIT-Sp-12 tool. There was also a consistent connection with the verbal contributions made by each participant. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Results suggest that <em>ConnecTo</em> is a valid screening tool that assists aged care providers to understand more about each person’s spirituality at the time they commence care.