The Content, Teaching Methods and Effectiveness of Spiritual Care Training for Healthcare Professionals : A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Journal article


Jones, Kate Fiona, Paal, Piret, Symons, Xavier and Best, Megan C.. (2021). The Content, Teaching Methods and Effectiveness of Spiritual Care Training for Healthcare Professionals : A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 62(3), pp. 261-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.03.013
AuthorsJones, Kate Fiona, Paal, Piret, Symons, Xavier and Best, Megan C.
Abstract

Context: Spirituality has been demonstrated to play an important role in healthcare, yet many staff feel ill-equipped to deliver spiritual care. Spiritual care training programs have been developed to address this need.

Objective: The aim of this mixed-methods systematic review was to identify spiritual care training programs for healthcare professionals or students, and to investigate program content, teaching methods, key outcomes, and identified challenges and facilitators.

Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. The search terms (‘religio*’ OR ‘spiritual*’ OR ‘existenti*’) were combined with (‘educat*’ OR ‘train*’ OR ‘curricul*’ OR ‘program*’), AND (‘care’ OR ‘therap*’ OR ‘treatment’ OR ‘competenc*’). Search terms were entered into the following data bases: PsycINFO, Medline, Cinahl and Web of Science. Findings were restricted to peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 2010 and February 2020.

Results: Fifty-five studies were identified. The quality of studies was mixed. Programs encompassed a range of content and teaching methods. Reported outcomes included increased levels of competency across intrapersonal spirituality, interpersonal spirituality, and spiritual assessment and interventions. Identified barriers included competing healthcare priorities, negative perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care, resistance towards focusing on one's own spirituality, staff feeling inadequate, and the need for ongoing training. Facilitators included opportunities for reflection, involvement of chaplains, application of practical tools, opportunities for practice, online training, and managerial support.

Conclusions: Positive outcomes following spiritual care training were identified. Further research is needed to identify patient-related outcomes of staff training, and to examine how the benefits of such training can be maintained over time

KeywordsHealth personnel ; spirituality ; spiritual care ; training
Year01 Jan 2021
JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management
Journal citation62 (3), pp. 261-278
PublisherElsevier Inc. (USA)
ISSN0885-3924
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.03.013
Web address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392421002372?via%3Dihub
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range261-278
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online21 Mar 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted15 Mar 2021
Deposited14 Nov 2024
Additional information

Crown Copyright © 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. All rights reserved.

Place of publicationUnited States
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