Role-Perceptions of Dutch Spiritual Caregivers in Implementing Multidisciplinary Spiritual Care: A National Survey

Abstract

Background: During the course of their disease, patients are, apart from suffering physical discomfort, also confronted with psychological, social, and spiritual challenges. However, healthcare professionals often lack the knowledge and skills to address the spiritual dimension and are in need of support for taking this responsibility. Spiritual caregivers are experts in spiritual care, but their contribution to the integration of this care by other healthcare professionals is largely unknown.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how Dutch spiritual caregivers view their role in increasing the integration of spiritual care in daily healthcare practice as provided by other healthcare professionals in the Netherlands, and how they address this role.

Methods: An online survey was conducted from May until June 2021 among spiritual caregivers working in Dutch healthcare. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: The majority of the 174 respondents answered that they already fulfil a role in the integration of spiritual care by, for example, providing education, coaching on the job, or participating in multidisciplinary consultation. However, the majority of respondents experienced barriers to their contribution, such as confusion of terminology and use of language while collaborating with other healthcare professionals and reluctance to share information.

Conclusions: While spiritual caregivers realise having the potential to make important contributions to the further process of integration of spiritual care into the daily practice of other healthcare professionals, some practices and perceptions, especially from within their own discipline, may hamper this.

Keywords: communication; healthcare chaplaincy; multidisciplinary collaboration; spiritual care; spiritual wellbeing.