The attitudes of senior health services managers to the role of spirituality in healthcare

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Copyright: Cohen, Jeffrey
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Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the perception of spirituality that was held by senior managers in one area health service in NSW. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants at the senior management level such as Executive Director and Director of Nursing level. Each interviewee was given a statement defining spirituality and a copy of 8 questions to review a number of viewpoints about delivery of spiritual/pastoral services in their facility. Each interview was audio recorded. Analysis: Thematic Analysis was utilised as the study began with no hypothesis to test. Results: 18 people were interviewed. Each participant acknowledged that Pastoral Services were delivered in their facility. No one felt that it was an unnecessary service. Most felt that Spirituality was a concept that needed to be introduced into the training of the clinical disciplines. All felt that it was not their facility s responsibility to train people in Spirituality. Most felt that it was either the training institutions, such as universities, or the professional organisations which should do the training. There was a strong feeling that either NSW Health or the Area Health Service should set guidance but they wanted the ability to adapt to their particular site. Besides liturgy, there was little awareness of what chaplains actually did. Although internationally, and in states such as Victoria, there has been a move away from denominational chaplaincy to discipline specific chaplaincy, there was no awareness of this trend, but neither was there any opposition to it. Once the subject was raised, most thought that standards for chaplains would be an improvement to their service. Using Themes Analysis several topics emerged: The need for Policy and procedures Acknowledgement of the importance of Spirituality Service Related issues Training and Education Chaplaincy Ethics Problem issues Conclusion: Even though this study was a standalone project, it could be viewed as a pilot project which has highlighted the need for an Australian wide study looking at how the senior managers in Health see Spirituality. The Pastoral Services team in each facility (outside the two faith based hospitals) need to become proactive in educating staff as to what they do, and how they do it. Most managers felt that Spirituality was a concept that needed to be introduced into the training of the clinical disciplines but that it was not their facility s responsibility. Most felt that it was either the training institutions, such as universities, or the professional organisations that should do the training. Although internationally, and in states such as Victoria, there has been a move away from denominational chaplaincy to discipline specific chaplaincy, there was no awareness of this trend, but neither was there any opposition to it. The sooner this happens, the better it is for patient care. Standards for chaplains would be an improvement to their service. In 2013, standards have been presented to Spiritual Care Australia. The sooner they are adopted in each of the facilities, the better it will be for patient care.
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Author(s)
Cohen, Jeffrey
Supervisor(s)
Johnson, Julie
Jackson-Pulver, Lisa
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Publication Year
2013
Resource Type
Thesis
Degree Type
Masters Thesis
UNSW Faculty
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