Phase Two: Mapping The Spiritual Care Environment

Study 1:

To understand the spiritual care needs, views and aspirations of consumers and communities we conducted focus groups - some kanohi-ki-te-kanohi\face-to-face, others online. Participants were diverse and included: patient advocacy groups, consumer councils, and hauora and other NGOs across the motu/country. Recruitment looked beyond mainstream sources to include organisations like Māori NGOs, social services, humanist and inter-faith groups, Whānau Ora and Asian health services, migrant and Iwi networks.

Study 2:

This study was a national cross-sectional survey of the adult general population (n=1542) exploring spiritual care understandings, needs, reasons for those needs, perceptions and experiences of chaplaincy and spiritual care.

Study 3:

This qualitative study involved key informant interviews and aimed to provide a profile of current spiritual care provision and role/tasks (what spiritual care providers do) across diverse healthcare landscapes; and to examine current best practice, experience of healthcare systems, education/qualifications, training experiences and needs, assessment processes, and visions for future models of spiritual care. Participants were a variety of spiritual care experts working in a variety of healthcare settings, including Māori spiritual care experts/tōhunga.

Study 4:

This study was an invitation-only survey of spiritual care practitioners, and aimed to provide a profile of current spiritual care provision. Questions included employment status, training and qualifications, roles/tasks/practices, assessments, barriers, and aspirations.

This study involved key informant interviews and aimed to provide an overarching sector perspective and profile of mid and upstream understandings of spiritual care provision, training, governance, accreditation, fiscal issues and management. 

This study aims to evaluate healthcare professionals spiritual care competency using the validated  EPICC Spiritual Care Competency Self-Assessment Tool. Participants will include doctors, nurses, psychologists and other relevant healthcare professionals.