Annemarie Foppen, Iris R Wierstra, Anke I Liefbroer, Lenneke Post, Erik Olsman
{"title":"Opening up the black box of chaplaincy: a qualitative study into the reported workings of a narrative and interfaith spiritual care intervention in palliative care at home.","authors":"Annemarie Foppen, Iris R Wierstra, Anke I Liefbroer, Lenneke Post, Erik Olsman","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2025.2471739","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2025.2471739","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the reported workings of a narrative and interfaith spiritual care intervention in palliative care at home called \"In dialogue with your life story.\" It was developed to address clients' spiritual needs in the religious plural context of the Netherlands. Thus far, how the intervention impacted clients' spiritual well-being remained a black box. A thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with and workbooks of clients (<i>N</i> = 75) and chaplains (<i>N</i> = 33) indicated seven intervention elements that promoted clients' spiritual well-being in four ways: (1) they offered new insights and a better overview, (2) provided a place to connect and share experiences, (3) helped to reach deeper layers of meaning, and (4) brought out feelings of calmness and gratitude. The findings shed light on the intervention's black box and encourage further exploration of associations between chaplaincy goals, processes, and outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143617547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of pluralisms in the positions and functions of chaplains in Dutch outpatient, community or primary care settings: secondary analysis of a multi-method comparative case study project.","authors":"Anja Visser, Hetty Zock","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2025.2471741","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2025.2471741","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The transition from inpatient spiritual care to spiritual care in outpatient, community or primary care settings presents various challenges to chaplains. We have examined how chaplaincy organizations navigate different types of pluralism to find their function and position in these settings. Secondary analysis was performed on 37 thick descriptions of chaplaincy organizations, focus group discussions with three of these organizations, and 24 client questionnaires. The results show that the organizations have to navigate religious pluralism, pluralism in health care professions, and pluralism in patient populations with their associated variety in financial arrangements. Therefore, the chaplains adjust their activities to the care landscape present in their region. They also adjust their communication style to the understanding of spirituality and the communication style of the care profession and financers they are in contact with. Through showing themselves and their work, they slowly build trust, durable working relationships, and a broader profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143574280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shanti Bolt, Suzanne Metselaar, Tonke Versteeg, Charlotte Kröger
{"title":"Addressing spirituality-related moral challenges in palliative care: perspectives of spiritual counselors.","authors":"Shanti Bolt, Suzanne Metselaar, Tonke Versteeg, Charlotte Kröger","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2025.2471740","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2025.2471740","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spiritual beliefs are increasingly important toward the end-of-life as they shape perspectives on good care, life, and death. However, in pluralistic societies, the spiritual beliefs of patients and care providers may differ. Care providers can find it difficult to be responsive to spiritual diversity and to how different belief systems of patients and their families may influence perspectives on care and dying. This can lead to moral challenges. Dialogical clinical ethics support (CES) helps care providers to jointly reflect on and deal with moral challenges. However, while spirituality shapes perspectives on good care, it is rarely addressed explicitly in CES sessions. We interviewed ten spiritual counselors of different denominations in The Netherlands to explore spirituality-related moral challenges in the delivery of palliative care, and to gain insight into their perspectives on what is needed to make both dialogues with patients and family and dialogical CES more responsive to spiritual diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143543730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Teresa Rangel, Gary Weisbrich, Sarah Sumner, Adam Gaines, Robert Leavitt
{"title":"Factors associated with health personnel-chaplain interactions in the hospital setting: a cross-sectional survey study.","authors":"Teresa Rangel, Gary Weisbrich, Sarah Sumner, Adam Gaines, Robert Leavitt","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2393551","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2393551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health personnel may seek chaplain support to discuss stressors related to complex patient cases, difficult team dynamics, and personal issues. In this survey study of 1376 healthcare interprofessional clinicians, participants reported interacting with chaplains most frequently over patient-related stressors in the prior 12 months. Factors associated with chaplain interactions to discuss all three stressors included: reporting chaplains provide spiritual support to health personnel, more years of service, seeking professional help to deal with stressors, and higher levels of secondary traumatic stress. Being a registered nurse (RN) and working in a critical care specialty were associated with increased odds of interactions with a chaplain to discuss patient-related stressors while identifying as Catholic or Protestant was associated with chaplain interactions to discuss team-related and personal stressors. Chaplains should tailor interventions to promote health personnel's spiritual well-being based on patient-related, team-related, and personal stressors. Healthcare institutions which do not employ chaplains should advocate for this resource. Leaders in healthcare settings with chaplains should promote increased staff awareness that chaplains are available to support wellbeing by discussing patient, team, or personal stressors.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"61-75"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142120848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lindsy Desmet, Jessie Dezutter, Anne Vandenhoeck, Annemie Dillen
{"title":"Geriatric inpatients' experiences with one-on-one chaplaincy visits in Belgium.","authors":"Lindsy Desmet, Jessie Dezutter, Anne Vandenhoeck, Annemie Dillen","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2386873","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2386873","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This qualitative study explores how geriatric inpatients (<i>n</i> = 103) experience a one-on-one chaplaincy visit. Although some patients expressed neutral or negative feelings about the chaplaincy visit, the large majority spoke in a very positive way about the chaplain's care. Using thematic analysis, we identified four main themes characterizing patients' experiences with chaplaincy visits. (1) Patients experienced the chaplaincy visit as a place to tell personal stories and express their religious beliefs. (2) They had a safe and trusting relationship with the chaplain. (3) The interaction with the chaplain brought new perspectives. (4) After the visit, they felt satisfied, relieved, peaceful, and strong. This study demonstrates that the experiences of geriatric patients contribute to a better understanding of the value of chaplaincy care. Integrating patients' perspectives on chaplaincy care is recommended, both in future research and healthcare chaplaincy.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"31-49"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142000972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David W Fleenor, Beth L Muehlhausen, Cate Michelle Desjardins, George Fitchett
{"title":"Essential competencies for healthcare chaplains: insights from hiring managers and implications for chaplaincy education.","authors":"David W Fleenor, Beth L Muehlhausen, Cate Michelle Desjardins, George Fitchett","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2399464","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2399464","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This first-of-its-kind study explored the essential competencies healthcare chaplaincy hiring managers (HCHMs) sought for entry-level healthcare chaplains (HCCs). We conducted qualitative interviews with 16 HCHMs and using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA), developed nine key themes: interpersonal skills, teamwork, knowledge of family and group dynamics, understanding of the healthcare system, professionalism, proficiency in spiritual assessment, effective communication, commitment to lifelong learning, and knowledge of various religious and spiritual beliefs, extending beyond one's own faith tradition. These themes reflected HCCs roles as healthcare professionals who contribute to patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and spiritual leadership responsibilities. The study underscored the need for chaplaincy education to integrate healthcare-specific coursework, interprofessional training, cultural and religious humility, and deeper knowledge of diverse belief systems. Developing and incorporating curriculum standards based on these themes could enhance the readiness of HCCs to deliver comprehensive care and meet the dynamic demands of diverse patient populations within today's healthcare landscape.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"76-95"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142298141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah Knapp, Benjamin Schaefer, R Greg Stratton, Timothy J Usset, Sunil K Yadav, George Fitchett
{"title":"Chaplain care for health care colleagues: a scoping review.","authors":"Sarah Knapp, Benjamin Schaefer, R Greg Stratton, Timothy J Usset, Sunil K Yadav, George Fitchett","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2386872","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2386872","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In addition to supporting patients and their loved ones at critical times, chaplains have long understood that caring for their health care colleagues is an important part of their practice. The Covid-19 pandemic prompted conversations among chaplains about how best to address the stress they were observing in health care workers. Our team conducted a scoping review in PubMed and CINAHL of peer reviewed literature describing chaplaincy care for health care workers. We started with 364 unique articles and found 59 that met criteria for the review. Five themes surfaced in analysis of these articles, with two themes emerging as most important: (1) descriptions of care for staff as part of the chaplain's role, especially when staff are making difficult decisions and (2) reports of the effects of chaplain care for staff, both indirect and direct. We discovered that research was limited, and more research is needed regarding chaplain care for health care colleagues.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"1-30"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142477242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christy Howard-Steele, Alexander Tartaglia, Janet L Hanson, George Fitchett
{"title":"A time study of ACPE certified educators.","authors":"Christy Howard-Steele, Alexander Tartaglia, Janet L Hanson, George Fitchett","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2388455","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2388455","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This is a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study of how ACPE Certified Educators (CEs) allocated their time among varied responsibilities in calendar year 2021. Using a structured interview assisted survey instrument, 25 CEs at academic medical centers/university teaching hospitals were surveyed via Zoom/Phone. Results found a median commitment of 58% of time on clinical pastoral education (CPE) activities (38% to teaching and 20% to administration). CEs (7) who also serve as Spiritual Care Department directors/managers spent 45% on CPE and 30% on department activities. Sixteen of the CEs strongly or somewhat agreed that CE involvement in direct patient/family/staff care was important, yet median CE involvement in such care was 5%. Future studies should examine CE time commitment levels in a broader sample of ACPE accredited institutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"50-60"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141910137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Self-described religious and spiritual identities of patients receiving gender-affirming surgeries: Implications for chaplaincy practice.","authors":"Alyxandra Ramsay, Jabe Ziino, Jo Hirschmann","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2379710","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2379710","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Studies of the U.S. population in general and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) communities specifically suggest that religion and spirituality (R/S) can function in both positive and negative ways, including on health outcomes. Patients recovering from gender-affirming surgeries were asked by chaplains, during the course of spiritual care visits, to describe their R/S identities in their own words. Seventy-five responses were included in the study and were coded. Six themes and 10 sub-themes were identified. The themes were (1) centeredness in self; (2) transcendent belief system; (3) non-religious belief systems; (4) importance of prayer; (5) R/S identity and practice as fixed and consistent; and (6) R/S identity and practice as flexible, contextual, and transforming. The findings broadly reflected national data about R/S belonging, including trends related to the growing share of the population that identifies as atheist, agnostic, or spiritual but not religious; ambivalent relationships with R/S communities due to transphobia; and R/S beliefs and practices as supportive. Implications for chaplaincy practice are discussed, including the need for chaplains to understand both demographic trends and the intersections of R/S and transphobia.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"294-305"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141761561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Petra J Sprik, Heather Vanderstelt, Charles Valenti-Hein, Joseph Denton, Deadra Ashton
{"title":"Chaplain interventions and outcomes in outpatient settings: a scoping review.","authors":"Petra J Sprik, Heather Vanderstelt, Charles Valenti-Hein, Joseph Denton, Deadra Ashton","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2357042","DOIUrl":"10.1080/08854726.2024.2357042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As chaplaincy is increasingly practiced in outpatient settings, further understanding is needed of what it entails and is accomplishing within this unique context. This scoping review summarizes 42 articles that describe the types of spiritual care interventions and programs offered by chaplains in outpatient settings, and their outcomes. Findings support that chaplaincy is practiced in outpatient settings, especially in palliative care, oncology, and primary care. Interventions are delivered by chaplains as the sole interventionist, and by interdisciplinary teams with chaplain participants. Results show that outpatient chaplain interventions are feasible and acceptable, with positive psychological and spiritual outcomes. More studies with consistent outcome measurements, and structured chaplain interventions are needed to draw further conclusions about the effectiveness of outpatient chaplain interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"306-328"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141248820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}