Abstract
ABSTRACT Despite the importance of spirituality to health and patient care, there remains a lack of educational opportunities for medical students to learn about and engage the spiritual needs of patients. Shadowing of hospital chaplains has been employed as a means of providing instruction in spirituality, but published experiences of this pedagogy are limited. This study therefore analyzed an elective, first-year medical student, eight-hour, trauma chaplain shadowing experience, the objectives of which are to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of (i) the role of chaplains/pastoral care in patient care; (ii) strategies for engaging patients and/or families in difficult situations; and (iii) approaches for discussing issues of spirituality with patients and families. A questionnaire was sent to participants after the experience assessing the value of the experience. Two focus groups provided additional qualitative data. Of the 148 participants over 6 years, 100 completed the questionnaire (68%). Participants on average engaged 1.78 trauma patients or their families and experienced 3.63 overall patient/family interactions during their shadowing. Over 90% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the experience provided agreater understanding of the role of the chaplain, and was educationally, professionally, and personally useful. Over 60% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the experience improved their understanding of discussing difficult or spiritual topics with patients and families. Nearly all respondents (98%) would recommend asimilar shadowing experience to fellow medical students. Qualitative remarks echoed these findings, revealing themes surrounding the educational benefits, surprise, and awe experienced by participants, and indicating appreciation for the interprofessional aspect of the experience. These data demonstrate that trauma chaplain shadowing may be effective for introducing first-year medical students to healthcare chaplaincy, educating them about the challenges of navigating difficult spiritual conversations with patients and families, and exposing them to interprofessional collaboration.
Highlights
Addressing the spiritual and religious needs of patients has been increasingly associated with positive clinical outcomes, decreased overall mortality rates, improved mental health, and increased quality of life [1]
We described our initial experience with a group of 21 first-year medical students who participated in the initial offering of a trauma chaplain shadowing experience [16]
During the fall semesters of 2013–2018, first-year medical students at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania were provided with the opportunity to participate in the Trauma Chaplain Shadowing Program, a collaborative educational initiative between the Perelman School of Medicine and the Department of Pastoral Care and Education Department of the University of Pennsylvania Health System
Summary
Addressing the spiritual and religious needs of patients has been increasingly associated with positive clinical outcomes, decreased overall mortality rates, improved mental health, and increased quality of life [1]. In response to these data, major medical organizations including the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the Joint Commission have all called on healthcare providers to address the spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones [2]. This content, was typically taught in courses addressing different topics or in elective courses, workshops, and/or self-directed learning [5]
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