Effect of a Spiritual Care Training Program to Build Knowledge, Competence, Confidence and Self-awareness Among Australian Health and Aged Care Staff: An Exploratory Study

J Relig Health. 2024 Feb;63(1):274-288. doi: 10.1007/s10943-023-01990-6. Epub 2024 Jan 11.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new spiritual care training program with health and aged care staff. A four-module program was delivered to 44 participants at a large Catholic health and aged care provider in Australia. Pre, post and 6 week follow-up surveys were administered and included measures of spiritual care competency, confidence, perspectives of spirituality and spiritual care, spiritual well-being, and satisfaction. Paired sample t-tests showed total scores of participants' spiritual well-being, spiritual care competency and confidence significantly improved following the training and were largely maintained at follow-up. Perspectives on spirituality and spiritual care did not significantly change over time.

Keywords: Aged care; Healthcare; Spiritual care; Spirituality; Training.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Australia
  • Humans
  • Perception
  • Spiritual Therapies*
  • Spirituality*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires