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

Csaba Szilagyi; Alex H Lion; Shelley E Varner Perez; Sarah Koch; Oladele Oyedele; James E Slaven; Kianna Montz; Joan E Haase; Christina M Puchalski

doi:10.1002/pbc.29515

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

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

Authors

Csaba Szilagyi^{1

2}, Alex H Lion^{3

4}, Shelley E Varner Perez^{4

5

6}, Sarah Koch⁵, Oladele Oyedele⁷, James E Slaven³, Kianna Montz⁵, Joan E Haase⁷, Christina M Puchalski^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
² Faculty of Theological and Religious Studies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
³ Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
⁴ Daniel F. Evans Center for Spiritual and Religious Values in Healthcare at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana.
⁵ Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana.
⁶ Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana.
⁷ Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana.
⁸ George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
⁹ The George Washington University Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish), Washington, District of Columbia.

PMID: 34913577
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29515

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Hematology*
Humans
Neoplasms* / psychology
Neoplasms* / therapy
Pilot Projects
Spiritual Therapies*
Spirituality
Young Adult