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Tunks Leach K, Demant D, Simpson P, Lewis J, Levett-Jones T. Chaplaincy and spiritual care in Australian ambulance services: an exploratory cross-sectional study. J Health Care Chaplain 2024; 30:202-225. [PMID: 38574262 DOI: 10.1080/08854726.2024.2323371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Tunks Leach
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel Demant
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, OLD, Australia
| | - Paul Simpson
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Tracy Levett-Jones
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Gaines AF, Rangel TL, Freedberg R, Doucette S, Stengem D, Timmerman R, Roney J, Arenivar P, Patterson A, Long J, Sumner S, Bock D, Mendelson S, Saul T, West A, Leavitt RE, Colorafi K. Relationships Between Perceived Importance of Chaplain Presence and Health Professionals' Emotional Well-Being in the United States. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023; 62:1546-1560. [PMID: 37010707 PMCID: PMC10068192 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01809-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hospital-based chaplains receive specialized training to provide spiritual support to patients and healthcare staff during difficult health transitions. However, the impact of perceived chaplain importance on healthcare staff's emotional and professional well-being is unclear. Healthcare staff (n = 1471) caring for patients in an acute care setting within a large health system answered demographic and emotional health questions in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Findings suggest that as perceived levels of chaplain importance increase, burnout may decrease and compassion satisfaction may improve. Chaplain presence in the hospital setting may support healthcare staff emotional and professional well-being following occupational stressors including COVID-19-related surges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F Gaines
- Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spiritual Care, 101 W 8th Ave, Spokane, WA, 99204, USA.
| | - Teresa L Rangel
- Professional Development, Providence Eastern Washington and Montana Region, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Rachel Freedberg
- Neurology, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Sheila Doucette
- Cardiology Services, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Danell Stengem
- Magnet Department, Providence St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Rosemary Timmerman
- Professional Nursing Support Department, Providence Alaska Region, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Jamie Roney
- Nursing Research, Providence New Mexico and Texas Region, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Patrick Arenivar
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Telemetry Unit, Providence Covenant Medical Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Angela Patterson
- Pediatric Emergency Department, Providence Covenant Childrens Hospital, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - JoAnn Long
- College of Nursing, Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Sarah Sumner
- Intensive Care, Providence St. Joseph Health Medical Center-Burbank, Burbank, CA, USA
| | - Dawn Bock
- Professional Practice and Innovation, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Santa Rosa, CA, USA
| | - Sherri Mendelson
- Nursing Research, Providence Holy Cross Hospital, Mission Hills, CA, USA
| | - Trisha Saul
- Professional Development, Providence Southern California Region, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - AnneMarie West
- Professional Development, Providence Oregon Region, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Robert E Leavitt
- Palliative Care, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Karen Colorafi
- Professional Development, Providence-Gonzaga School of Anesthesia, Spokane, WA, USA
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Tunks Leach K, Simpson P, Lewis J, Levett-Jones T. The Role and Value of Chaplains in an Australian Ambulance Service: A Comparative Study of Chaplain and Paramedic Perspectives. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023; 62:98-116. [PMID: 36402854 PMCID: PMC9676825 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-022-01685-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Chaplains are embedded in several ambulance services across Australia, however as Australia's religiosity is currently in decline and questions are being asked about retaining chaplains, little is actually known about their role and value within Ambulance services. The aim of this paper is to present the key findings from interviews with chaplains about their role and value of being ambulance chaplains. These findings are then compared with those of paramedics derived from an earlier phase of this study. Thirteen chaplains participated in semi-structured interviews, and data were analysed using framework analysis. The results indicated that ambulance chaplains provided paramedic-centred emotional and spiritual care through proactively and reactively supporting paramedics in their work. Chaplains saw value in their relational approach which facilitated trust and access, did not seek to 'fix' or diagnose but instead offered physical and emotional presence, and promoted supportive conversations. Chaplains and paramedics valued operationally trained and equipped ambulance chaplains who provided a relational, around the clock, 'frontline' staff support presence in paramedic workplaces, regardless of the paramedic's personal religious/spiritual beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Tunks Leach
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- New South Wales Ambulance, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Paul Simpson
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joanne Lewis
- School of Nursing and Health, Avondale University, Wahroonga, Australia
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