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Spiritual care in the training of hospice volunteers in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2015

Margit Gratz ,
Piret Paal ,
Moritz Emmelmann  and
Traugott Roser
Margit Gratz*
Affiliation:
Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, Germany
Piret Paal
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, Germany
Moritz Emmelmann
Affiliation:
Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
Traugott Roser
Affiliation:
Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Margit Gratz, Department of Practical Theology, University of Muenster, Universitaetsstr. 13-17, 48143 Muenster, Germany. E-mail: margit.gratz@uni-muenster.de
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Abstract

Objective:

Hospice volunteers often encounter questions related to spirituality. It is unknown whether spiritual care receives a corresponding level of attention in their training. Our survey investigated the current practice of spiritual care training in Germany.

Method:

An online survey sent to 1,332 hospice homecare services for adults in Germany was conducted during the summer of 2012. We employed the SPSS 21 software package for statistical evaluation.

Results:

All training programs included self-reflection on personal spirituality as obligatory. The definitions of spirituality used in programs differ considerably. The task of defining training objectives is randomly delegated to a supervisor, a trainer, or to the governing organization. More than half the institutions work in conjunction with an external trainer. These external trainers frequently have professional backgrounds in pastoral care/theology and/or in hospice/palliative care. While spiritual care receives great attention, the specific tasks it entails are rarely discussed. The response rate for our study was 25.0% (n = 332).

Significance of results:

A need exists to develop training concepts that outline distinct contents, methods, and objectives. A prospective curriculum would have to provide assistance in the development of training programs. Moreover, it would need to be adaptable to the various concepts of spiritual care employed by the respective institutions and their hospice volunteers.

Keywords

Training programHospice volunteersPalliative careSpiritualitySpiritual care
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 14 , Issue 5 , October 2016 , pp. 532 - 540
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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