Mary Martha Thiel1, Donna Luff, Emma E Kerr, Mary R Robinson, Elaine C Meyer. 1. Ms. Thiel: Chaplain, Department of Spiritual Care, Hebrew SeniorLife, Roslindale, MA. Department of Anesthesia, Dr. Luff: Director of Curriculum Design and Quality, Boston Children's Hospital Simulator Program and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Landmark Center, Boston, MA. Ms. Kerr: Research Associate, Department of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Ms. Robinson: Retired Chaplain, Department of Chaplaincy, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Dr. Meyer: Senior Attending Psychologist, Boston Children's Hospital and Associate Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Meeting spiritual needs of patients is an important aspect of quality health care, but continuing professional development and training to provide spiritual care remains inadequate. The purpose was to identify participants' learning from simulation-based spiritual generalist workshops and application to practice. METHODS: Interdisciplinary participants completed self-report demographic questionnaires before the workshops and questionnaires after workshops that listed open-ended take-home learning. Responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A subgroup was surveyed 3 to 9 months after training to examine whether and how participants had incorporated workshop learning into clinical work. RESULTS: Workshop participants 181/211 (85.8%) reported learning in four categories: core values and skills of spiritual generalists, understanding spirituality/religion and its role in health care, interfacing with chaplaincy, and interprofessional teamwork. Of the subsample, 73.5% (25/34) completed surveys 3 to 9 months after training. Of those, 25/25 (100%) reported drawing on what they learned in workshops, and 24/25 (96%) reported making clinical practice changes. DISCUSSION: One-day spiritual generalist simulation-based workshops can improve continuing professional development learning experiences to provide generalist level of spiritual care. Workshops offered valuable learning and resulted in applicable clinical skills across professional roles. At 3 to 9 months after training, participants reported improved spiritual screening, recognition of spiritual distress, and referral to chaplaincy.
INTRODUCTION: Meeting spiritual needs of patients is an important aspect of quality health care, but continuing professional development and training to provide spiritual care remains inadequate. The purpose was to identify participants' learning from simulation-based spiritual generalist workshops and application to practice. METHODS: Interdisciplinary participants completed self-report demographic questionnaires before the workshops and questionnaires after workshops that listed open-ended take-home learning. Responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A subgroup was surveyed 3 to 9 months after training to examine whether and how participants had incorporated workshop learning into clinical work. RESULTS: Workshop participants 181/211 (85.8%) reported learning in four categories: core values and skills of spiritual generalists, understanding spirituality/religion and its role in health care, interfacing with chaplaincy, and interprofessional teamwork. Of the subsample, 73.5% (25/34) completed surveys 3 to 9 months after training. Of those, 25/25 (100%) reported drawing on what they learned in workshops, and 24/25 (96%) reported making clinical practice changes. DISCUSSION: One-day spiritual generalist simulation-based workshops can improve continuing professional development learning experiences to provide generalist level of spiritual care. Workshops offered valuable learning and resulted in applicable clinical skills across professional roles. At 3 to 9 months after training, participants reported improved spiritual screening, recognition of spiritual distress, and referral to chaplaincy.
Authors: Lidia Borghi; Elaine C Meyer; Elena Vegni; Roberta Oteri; Paolo Almagioni; Giulia Lamiani Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-08 Impact factor: 3.390