Assessing the impact of supplementary training on the spiritual conversations between employees and patients at hospice

Background:Patients at the end of life don’t experience their existential and spiritual needs being sufficiently met by health care professionals. Studies have found that, according to health care professionals, this inadequacy is a result of insufficient education and knowledge. Professional shyness in the face of spiritual conversation and limited understanding of the existential needs of patients is also found to influence the inadequacy.
Methods:Methods for obtaining both qualitative and quantitative data were applied:focus group interviews, individual interviews and questionnaires with both qualitative and quantitative questions. Qualitative data were analyzed through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). We included quantitative metrics to the questionnaire to better asses the impact and significance of the course for the participants.
Results:Preliminary results indicate that existential self-reflection and practicing communicational skill in safe environments increase staff’s experience of being competent in providing care for patients’ spiritual and existential needs.
Conclusion:A supplementary educational course for hospice staff with focus on existential self-reflection, the vulnerable encounter and developing shared professional language for spiritual care can make hospice staff better equipped to care for patients’spiritual and existential needs.