Chaplaincy and spiritual care in Australian ambulance services : An exploratory cross-sectional study

Journal article


Tunks Leach, Katie, Demant, Daniel, Simpson, Paul, Lewis, Joanne and Levett-Jones, Tracey. (2024). Chaplaincy and spiritual care in Australian ambulance services : An exploratory cross-sectional study. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy. 30(3), pp. 202-225. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2024.2323371
AuthorsTunks Leach, Katie, Demant, Daniel, Simpson, Paul, Lewis, Joanne and Levett-Jones, Tracey
Abstract

Ambulance staff wellbeing programs aim to support the bio-psycho-social and sometimes spiritual needs of paramedics. While evidence demonstrates strong connections between spirituality and/or religion to wellbeing outcomes, little is known about spiritual care in ambulance services or its impact. The aim of this study was to investigate paramedics’ perspectives on the role and value of Australian ambulance chaplains. A cross-sectional online study of registered paramedics in Australia was conducted between November and December 2022. Analysis of the 150 responses identified that paramedics viewed the chaplain’s role as one built on professional caring relationships that provided proactive and reactive care in paramedic workplaces. Chaplains were perceived to promote wellbeing by incorporating emotional, psychological, social and spiritual care, and assisting paramedics to access additional support. Perceived religiousness of chaplains and organisational factors were barriers to paramedics accessing chaplains, while pre-existing relationships and shared experiences positively influenced paramedics decision to seek chaplain support.

Keywordsambulance; chaplaincy; emergency medical services; paramedicine; spiritual care
Year2024
JournalJournal of Health Care Chaplaincy
Journal citation30 (3), pp. 202-225
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN0885-4726
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2024.2323371
PubMed ID38574262
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85190304044
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range202-225
FunderResearch Training Program Scholarship (RTP), Australian Government
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online04 Apr 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited02 Jun 2025
Additional information

© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.

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