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Project

Measuring the impact of spiritual care provided by hospital chaplains

This project tackles the lack of knowledge on the effects and the underlying processes of pastoral care interventions in hospitals by conducting a mixed method process- and outcome study in a sample of hospital patients. The results of a quantitative prospective study will provide insight in how patients’ emotional states and general and spiritual well-being change after receiving spiritual care by chaplains compared to a control group of patients not receiving spiritual care. A complementary qualitative study (phenomenological approach) will gain insight in which processes are present during chaplaincy interventions. In-depth interviews with patients will focus on the experience of the patients themselves. Evidence-based knowledge on outcomes of spiritual care by chaplains and underlying processes will stimulate the communication about the role of hospital chaplains.
Date:1 Oct 2018 →  30 Sep 2022
Keywords:Empirical theology, Spirituality, Spiritual care, Outcome- and process study, Chaplaincy
Disciplines:Theology and religious studies