Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income country
Abstract Background Spiritual care is a key component of palliative care, but it has been overlooked and understudied in low- and middle-income country contexts, especially in Africa. In this study we sought to establish what the current spiritual care practices are in hospice palliative care settin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00756-9 |
| _version_ | 1818728059419754496 |
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| author | Ronita Mahilall Leslie Swartz |
| author_facet | Ronita Mahilall Leslie Swartz |
| author_sort | Ronita Mahilall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Spiritual care is a key component of palliative care, but it has been overlooked and understudied in low- and middle-income country contexts, especially in Africa. In this study we sought to establish what the current spiritual care practices are in hospice palliative care settings in South Africa with a focused view on what spiritual care training is currently offered and what training needs still remain unmet. Methods We explored spiritual care practices, and training needs, through a national quantitative online study of palliative care organisations in South Africa registered with the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa. A survey was sent to representatives of all member organisations listed on the national database of Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa. Viable data from 41% (n = 40) member organisations were analysed through the use of simple statistics. Results An expressed need (75%; n = 30) was recorded for the development of a national spiritual care curriculum. Although 48% (n = 20) of the member organisations were willing to participate in the development of a spiritual care curriculum, 37% (n = 14) could not participate, citing financial (n = 27), time (n = 31) and expertise constraints (n = 22). A set of hard and soft skills were suggested to suit the diverse South African context. Conclusions Spiritual care was seen by participants as a key component of palliative care. International curricula in spiritual care, while useful, do not offer easy adaptation to the diversities of South Africa. A bespoke spiritual care curriculum was called for, for diverse South Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:23:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0db02b5ac0344318b869f632a7071b4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:23:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-0db02b5ac0344318b869f632a7071b4c2022-12-21T21:30:23ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2021-04-012011710.1186/s12904-021-00756-9Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income countryRonita Mahilall0Leslie Swartz1Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Stellenbosch UniversityAbstract Background Spiritual care is a key component of palliative care, but it has been overlooked and understudied in low- and middle-income country contexts, especially in Africa. In this study we sought to establish what the current spiritual care practices are in hospice palliative care settings in South Africa with a focused view on what spiritual care training is currently offered and what training needs still remain unmet. Methods We explored spiritual care practices, and training needs, through a national quantitative online study of palliative care organisations in South Africa registered with the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa. A survey was sent to representatives of all member organisations listed on the national database of Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa. Viable data from 41% (n = 40) member organisations were analysed through the use of simple statistics. Results An expressed need (75%; n = 30) was recorded for the development of a national spiritual care curriculum. Although 48% (n = 20) of the member organisations were willing to participate in the development of a spiritual care curriculum, 37% (n = 14) could not participate, citing financial (n = 27), time (n = 31) and expertise constraints (n = 22). A set of hard and soft skills were suggested to suit the diverse South African context. Conclusions Spiritual care was seen by participants as a key component of palliative care. International curricula in spiritual care, while useful, do not offer easy adaptation to the diversities of South Africa. A bespoke spiritual care curriculum was called for, for diverse South Africa.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00756-9Spiritual carePalliative careSouth AfricaDiversityHospice |
| spellingShingle | Ronita Mahilall Leslie Swartz Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income country BMC Palliative Care Spiritual care Palliative care South Africa Diversity Hospice |
| title | Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income country |
| title_full | Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income country |
| title_fullStr | Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income country |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income country |
| title_short | Challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle-income country |
| title_sort | challenges and opportunities for spiritual care practice in hospices in a middle income country |
| topic | Spiritual care Palliative care South Africa Diversity Hospice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00756-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ronitamahilall challengesandopportunitiesforspiritualcarepracticeinhospicesinamiddleincomecountry AT leslieswartz challengesandopportunitiesforspiritualcarepracticeinhospicesinamiddleincomecountry |