Improving the Quality of Spiritual Care as a Dimension of Palliative Care: The Report of the Consensus Conference

Primary Author: Christina M. Puchalski, GWish: The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health

Addressing Patients Emotional and Spiritual Needs

Primary Author: Paul Alexander Clark, Press Ganey Associates

This article from the December 2003 issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety (Volume 29 Number 12) is the result of a literature review and original research to ascertain whether patients emotional and spiritual needs are important, whether hospitals are effective in addressing these needs, and what strategies should guide improvement.

The study found "a strong relationship between the degree to which staff addressed emotional/spiritual needs and overall patient satisfaction" and the authors conclude that "the emotional and spiritual experience of hospitalization remains a prime opportunity for QI" (Quality Improvement).

Best Practices in Professional Pastoral Care

Primary Author: George F. Handzo, The HealthCare Chaplaincy

Article from the Southern Medical Journal (Volume 99, Number 6) briefly describing a number of practices generally accepted as representing the highest quality in professional pastoral care.

Elder Abuse and Neglect: Clergy Awareness, Knowledge, Intervention Preferences, and Perceived Severity

Primary Author: John D. Rudnick, Jr., Thomas More College

Because elder abuse victims, abusers, and stakeholders often seek help from trusted faith-based entities, clergy need to be adequately prepared with appropriate intervention responses, concept awareness and knowledge concerning elder abuse and neglect as an emerging health and social crisis (University of Kentucky, 2007). This presentation is based on a study that explored issues related to the general research question: "What is the perceived level of elder abuse and neglect awareness, knowledge and intervention preferences among Protestant clergy in Kentucky?
Survey responses were paired to examine relationships between demographic characteristics and the facets measured--awareness, knowledge intervention preferences, and perceived severity of elder abuse and neglect. Overall, clergy were generally not aware of their responsibilities and lacked detailed knowledge about elder abuse and neglect. Recommended areas for future research linked to awareness, knowledge, intervention responses and perceived severity are provided.

Spiritual & Religious Care Competencies for Specialist Palliative Care: Assessment Tools and Self-Assessment Tools

Primary Author: David Mitchell, Marie Curie Cancer Care hospices

A tool to assess the competence of individual healthcare professionals using Marie Curie Cancer Care's Spiritual and Religious Care Competencies for Specialist Palliative Care. These tools can be used as part of a performance review and development process for competence in spiritual and religious care and to identify training and development needs.