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
Authors | Tunks Leach, Katie, Demant, Daniel, Simpson, Paul, Lewis, Joanne and Levett-Jones, Tracey |
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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. |
Keywords | ambulance; chaplaincy; emergency medical services; paramedicine; spiritual care |
Year | 2024 |
Journal | Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy |
Journal citation | 30 (3), pp. 202-225 |
Publisher | Routledge |
ISSN | 0885-4726 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2024.2323371 |
PubMed ID | 38574262 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85190304044 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Page range | 202-225 |
Funder | Research Training Program Scholarship (RTP), Australian Government |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 04 Apr 2024 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 02 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. |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/91y18/chaplaincy-and-spiritual-care-in-australian-ambulance-services-an-exploratory-cross-sectional-study
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Publisher's version
OA_Tunks_Leach_2024_Chaplaincy_and_spiritual_care_in_Australian.pdf | |
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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