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. 2022 Mar;69(3):e29515.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.29515. Epub 2021 Dec 16.

Interprofessional spiritual care education in pediatric hematology-oncology: A pilot study

Csaba Szilagyi  1   2 , Alex H Lion  3   4 , Shelley E Varner Perez  4   5   6 , Sarah Koch  5 , Oladele Oyedele  7 , James E Slaven  3 , Kianna Montz  5 , Joan E Haase  7 , Christina M Puchalski  8   9
Affiliations

Interprofessional spiritual care education in pediatric hematology-oncology: A pilot study

Csaba Szilagyi et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Evidence and clinical guidelines call care team members to address the spiritual well-being of pediatric patients, especially adolescents and young adults (AYA), with cancer and blood disorders. However, the lack of relevant training in generalist spiritual care has been a key barrier. Therefore, we aimed to improve clinicians' capabilities by utilizing the Interprofessional Spiritual Care Education Curriculum (ISPEC) to close this gap in pediatric hematology-oncology. A model of interprofessional spiritual care entails that all team members attend to patients' spirituality by employing generalist spiritual care skills and collaborating with spiritual care specialists such as chaplains.

Methods: Interdisciplinary team members providing care for AYA with cancer and blood disorders were recruited to participate in interprofessional spiritual care education. Our intervention combined an evidence-based online curriculum and in-person discussion groups. Pretest-posttest study examined changes in participants' skills and practices to identify, address, and discuss spiritual concerns. Surveys were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention.

Results: Participants (n = 21) included physicians, advanced practice providers, nurse coordinators, and psychosocial team members. We observed positive changes in participants' ability (36%, P < 0.01), frequency (56%, P = 0.01), confidence (32%, P < 0.01), and comfort (31%, P = 0.02) providing generalist spiritual care baseline versus one month, with significant gains maintained through six months (Omnibus P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Utilizing ISPEC, interprofessional spiritual care education has a strong potential to develop pediatric hematology-oncology team members' capabilities to attend to the spiritual aspect of whole-person care and thus contribute to the well-being of AYA with cancer and blood disorders.

Keywords: Adolescent and young adult (AYA); chaplaincy; interprofessional education; psychosocial; spiritual care; supportive care oncology.

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References

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