Phase Two: Mapping The Spiritual Care Environment

Study 1 and 2 are interrelated, with Study 1 informing Study 2.

Study 1:

To understand the spiritual care needs, views and aspirations of consumers and communities we will do ten focus groups, some kanohi-ki-te-kanohi\face-to-face, others online. Participants will include: patient advocacy groups, consumer councils, and hauora and other NGOs across the motu/country. Recruitment will look 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. If you would like to be involved, do let us know! Qualitative analysis will employ generic thematic analysis.

Study 2:

Building on the qualitative Study 1, this study will be a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of the general population (n=1000) focusing on spiritual care needs, reasons for those needs, perceptions of chaplaincy and experiences with chaplaincy and spiritual care. The survey will be conducted by a reputable survey company using an internationally relevant survey instrument made relevant for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Study 3 and 4 are also interconnected, with Study 3 informing Study 4.

Study 3:

This qualitative study aims to provide a profile of current spiritual care provision and role/tasks (what spiritual care providers do) across diverse spiritual 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. This will involve key informant interviews of a variety of spiritual care experts, including Māori spiritual care experts/tōhunga; Pacific, Asian, and other hospital/hospice/ARC chaplains/spiritual care providers.

Study 4:

Building on the Study 3, this study aims to provide a quantitative profile of current spiritual care provision. This will require a comprehensive survey aimed at capturing the perspectives of a wide range of professional spiritual care providers. We are investigating possible survey instruments. Participants will include approximately 90 hospital chaplains, approximately 32 hospice chaplains and an unknown number of Māori, Pacific, Asian and Aged Residential Care chaplains.

This study aims to provide an overarching stakeholder perspective and a profile of mid and upstream understandings of spiritual care provision, training, governance, accreditation, fiscal issues and management (i.e., institutional, policy and stakeholder lead roles).  We will hold wānanga/focus groups and/or interviews with key stakeholders, including staff from the Interchurch Hospital Chaplaincy (ICHC) and the New Zealand Healthcare Chaplaincy Association (NZHCA), Manatū Hauora/Ministry of Health (MoH), Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora staff, Aged Residential Care and hospice leaders, senior medical/health care professional leaders, senior religious leaders, and Iwi leaders.

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.