Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T13:21:18.885Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Spiritual care in the training of hospice volunteers in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2015

Margit Gratz ,
Piret Paal ,
Moritz Emmelmann  and
Traugott Roser
Margit Gratz*
Affiliation:
Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, Germany
Piret Paal
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, Germany
Moritz Emmelmann
Affiliation:
Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
Traugott Roser
Affiliation:
Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Margit Gratz, Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Universitaetsstr. 13-17, 48143 Muenster, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Hospice volunteers often encounter questions related to spirituality. It is unknown whether spiritual care receives a corresponding level of attention in their training. Our survey investigated the current practice of spiritual care training in Germany.

Method:

An online survey sent to 1,332 hospice homecare services for adults in Germany was conducted during the summer of 2012. We employed the SPSS 21 software package for statistical evaluation.

Results:

All training programs included self-reflection on personal spirituality as obligatory. The definitions of spirituality used in programs differ considerably. The task of defining training objectives is randomly delegated to a supervisor, a trainer, or to the governing organization. More than half the institutions work in conjunction with an external trainer. These external trainers frequently have professional backgrounds in pastoral care/theology and/or in hospice/palliative care. While spiritual care receives great attention, the specific tasks it entails are rarely discussed. The response rate for our study was 25.0% (n = 332).

Significance of results:

A need exists to develop training concepts that outline distinct contents, methods, and objectives. A prospective curriculum would have to provide assistance in the development of training programs. Moreover, it would need to be adaptable to the various concepts of spiritual care employed by the respective institutions and their hospice volunteers.

Keywords

Training programHospice volunteersPalliative careSpiritualitySpiritual care
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 14 , Issue 5 , October 2016 , pp. 532 - 540
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alcorn, S.R., Balboni, M.J., Prigerson, H.G., et al. (2010). “If God wanted me yesterday, I wouldn't be here today”: Religious and spiritual themes in patients' experiences of advanced cancer. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 13(5), 581–588.Google Scholar
Bericht des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit (BMG) (2012). Zur Situation in der ambulanten und stationären Hospizversorgung für die 63: Sitzung des Ausschusses für Gesundheit des Deutschen Bundestages. Available from https://fachinformationen.diakonie-wissen.de/node/3513.Google Scholar
Borneman, T., Ferrell, B. & Puchalski, C.M. (2010). Evaluation of the FICA tool for spiritual assessment. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 40(2), 163–173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, M.V. (2011). How they cope: A qualitative study of the coping skills of hospice volunteers. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 28(6), 398–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Büssing, A., Michalsen, A., Balzat, H.-J., et al. (2009). Are spirituality and religiosity resources for patients with chronic pain conditions? Pain Medicine, 10(2), 327–339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buser, K., Amelung, V.E. & Schneider, N. (2008). German community pastors' contact with palliative care patients and collaboration with health care professionals. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 4(2), 85–100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Charbonnier, R. (2008). Seelsorge in der Palliativversorgung. Wege zum Menschen, 60(6), 512–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, D., Aherne, M. & Pereira, J. (2010). The competencies required by professional hospice palliative care spiritual care providers. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 13(7), 869–875.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DGP (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Palliativmedizin) (2007). Spirituelle Begleitung in der Palliativversorgung: Konzept des Arbeitskreises Spirituelle Begleitung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Palliativmedizin. Available from http://www.dgpalliativmedizin.de/images/stories/pdf/fachkompetenz/070709%20Spirituelle%20Begl%20in%20Pm%20070510.pdf.Google Scholar
Epstein-Peterson, Z.D., Sullivan, A.J., Enzinger, A.C., et al. (2014). Examining forms of spiritual care provided in the advanced cancer setting. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 32(7), 750–757. Epub ahead of print July 8.Google Scholar
Farley, V. (2014). The chaplain's role: Where aid in dying is legal. Health Progress, 95(1), 11–13.Google Scholar
Frick, E., Riedner, C., Fegg, M., et al. (2005). A clinical interview assessing cancer patients' spiritual needs and preferences. European Journal of Cancer Care, 15, 238–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gamondi, C., Larkin, P. & Payne, S. (2013). Core competencies in palliative care: An EAPC white paper on palliative care education, part 2. European Journal of Palliative Care, 20(3), 140–145.Google Scholar
Gordon, T. & Mitchell, D. (2004). A competency model for the assessment and delivery of spiritual care. Palliative Medicine, 18, 646–651.Google Scholar
Hagen, T. & Raischl, J. (2011). Allgemeine und spezielle Kompetenzen in Spiritual Care. In Spiritualität und Medizin: Gemeinsame Sorge für den kranken Menschen, 2nd ed. Frick, E. & Roser, T. (eds.), pp. 285–292. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.Google Scholar
Hampton, D.M., Hollis, D.E., Dudley, A.L., et al. (2007). Spiritual needs of persons with advanced cancer. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 24(1), 42–48.Google Scholar
Hanson, L.C., Dobbs, D., Usher, B.M., et al. (2008). Providers and types of spiritual care during serious illness. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 11(6), 907–914.Google Scholar
Hermann, C.P. (2007). The degree to which spiritual needs of patients near the end of life are met. Oncology Nursing Forum, 24(1), 70–78.Google Scholar
Höver, G.& Schaeffer, A. (2009). Spiritualität und Menschenwürde in der Begleitung am Lebensende. Die Hospiz-Zeitschrift, 42(4), 4–8.Google Scholar
Lavenburg, P. & Bernt, F. M. (2012). Training and supporting hospice volunteers: A regional survey. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 29(5), 355–361.Google Scholar
Lillis, B.S. (2014). Understanding the complex role of a hospice spiritual counselor. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 31(4), 353–355.Google Scholar
Liu, Y.J. (2014). A proposal for a spiritual care assessment toolkit for religious volunteers and volunteer service users. Journal of Religion and Health, 53(5), 1414–1426.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lloyd-Williams, M., Cobb, M., Shiels, C., et al. (2006). How well trained are clergy in care of the dying patient and bereavement support? Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 32(1), 44–51.Google Scholar
Marr, L.M., Billings, J.A. & Weissman, D.E. (2007). Spirituality training for palliative care fellows. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 10(1), 169–177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McSherry, W. & Jamieson, S. (2011). An online survey of nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 20, 1757–1767.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meredith, P., Murray, J., Wilson, T., et al. (2012). Can spirituality be taught to health care professionals? Journal of Religion and Health, 51, 879–889.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Müller, M. & Heinemann, W. (2014). Ehrenamtliche Sterbebegleitung: Handbuch mit Übungsmodulen für Ausbildende. Göttingen: Vadenhoeck & Ruprecht.Google Scholar
Nolan, S., Saltmarsh, P. & Leget, C. (2011). Spiritual care in palliative care: Working towards an EAPC task force. European Journal of Palliative Care, 18(2), 86–89.Google Scholar
Nulty, D.D. (2008). The adequacy of response rates to online and paper surveys: What can be done? Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 33(3), 308–314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Okon, T.R. (2005). Palliative care review: Spiritual, religious, and existential aspects of palliative care. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 8(2), 392–414.Google Scholar
Owen-Still, S. (1985). Spiritual caregiving: A philosophy for the volunteer-intensive hospice program. The American Journal of Hospice Care, 2(2), 32–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paal, P., Roser, T. & Frick, E. (2014). Developments in spiritual care education in German-speaking countries. BMC Medical Education, 5(14), 112–118.Google Scholar
Paal, P., Helo, Y. & Frick, E. (2015). Spiritual care training provided to healthcare professionals: A systematic review. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 69(1), 19–30.Google Scholar
Penderell, A. & Brazil, K. (2010). The spirit of palliative practice: A qualitative inquiry into the spiritual journey of palliative care physicians. Palliative & Supportive Care, 9, 415–420.Google Scholar
Pesut, B. (2003). Developing spirituality in the curriculum: Worldviews, intrapersonal connectedness, interpersonal connectedness. Nursing Education Perspectives, 24(6), 290–294.Google Scholar
Phelps, A.C., Lauderdale, K.E., Alcorn, S., et al. (2012). Addressing spirituality within the care of patients at the end of life: Perspectives of patients with advanced cancer, oncologists, and oncology nurses. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 30(20), 2538–2544.Google Scholar
Planalp, S., Trost, M.R. & Berry, P.H. (2011). Spiritual feasts: Meaningful conversations between hospice volunteers and patients. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 28(7), 483–486.Google Scholar
Puchalski, C., Ferrell, B., Virani, R., et al. (2009). Improving the quality of spiritual care as a dimension of palliative care: The report of the consensus conference. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 12(10), 885–904.Google Scholar
Raab, M. (2005). Training spiritual care volunteers. An Indiana program teaches participants how to help people caught in crisis. Health Progress, Nov.–Dec., 60–61. Available from https://www.chausa.org/publications/health-progress/article/november-december-2005/training-spiritual-care-volunteers.Google Scholar
Radbruch, L. & Payne, S. (2010). White paper on standards and norms for hospice and palliative care in Europe, part 2. Recommendations from the European Association for Palliative Care. European Journal of Palliative Care , 17(1), 22–33.Google Scholar
Roser, T. (2011). Innovation spiritual care: Eine praktisch-theologische Perspektive. In Spiritualität und Medizin: Gemeinsame Sorge für den kranken Menschen, 2nd ed. Frick, E. & Roser, T. (eds.), pp. 45–56. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.Google Scholar
Roser, T. (2012). Spiritualität und Gesundheit: Überlegungen zur Bedeutung eines unbestimmbaren Begriffs im interdisziplinären Diskurs. In Spiritualität im Diskurs: Spiritualitätsforschung in theologischer Perspektive. Kunz, R. & Reichenbach, C. Kohli (eds.), pp. 227–240. Zürich: Theologischer Verlag Zürich.Google Scholar
Scherwitz, L., Pullman, M., McHenry, P., et al. (2006). A contemplative care approach to training and supporting hospice volunteers: A prospective study of spiritual practice, well-being, and fear of death. Explore, 2(4), 304–313.Google Scholar
Surbone, A. & Baider, L. (2010). The spiritual dimension of cancer care. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 73, 228–235.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tan, H.M., Grief, M., Couns, P.C., et al. (2005). The impact of the hospice environment on patient spiritual expression. Oncology Nursing Forum, 32(5), 1049–1055.Google Scholar
Vallurupalli, M., Lauderdale, K., Balboni, M.J., et al. (2012). The role of spirituality and religious coping in the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative radiation therapies. The Journal of Supportive Oncology, 10(2), 81–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wasner, M., Longaker, C., Fegg, M., et al. (2005). Effects of spiritual care training for palliative care professionals. Palliative Medicine, 19, 99–104.Google Scholar
Wesley, C., Tunney, K. & Duncan, E. (2004). Educational needs of hospice social workers: Spiritual assessment and interventions with diverse populations. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 21(1), 40–46.Google Scholar
Wilson, P.E. (2000). Hospice volunteer training: Making the experience more meaningful. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 17(2), 107–110.Google Scholar
Yardley, S.J., Walshe, C.E. & Parr, A. (2009). Improving training in spiritual care: A qualitative study exploring patient perceptions of professional educational requirements. Palliative Medicine, 23, 601–607.CrossRefGoogle Scholar