Developing and testing the EPICC Spiritual Care Competency Self‐Assessment Tool for student nurses and midwives

Aims and objectives To develop and psychometrically test a self-assessment tool that measures undergraduate nursing and midwifery students’ perceptions of spiritual care competence in health care practice. Background Spiritual care is part of nurses/midwives’ responsibility. There is a need to better benchmark students’ competency development in spiritual care through their education. The EPICC Spiritual Care Education Standard served as groundwork for the development of the EPICC Spiritual Care Competency Self-Assessment Tool. Design Cross sectional, mixed methods design. A STROBE checklist was used. Methods The Tool (available in English, Dutch and Norwegian) was developed by an international group. It was tested between July–October 2020 with a convenience sample of 323 nursing/midwifery students at eight universities in five countries. The Tool was tested for validity using Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, one-way ANOVA and independent samples t test. The reliability was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results The KMO test for sampling adequacy was 0.90. All, but two, items were related to the same factor. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the Tool was 0.91. Students found the Tool easy to use, and they gained new insights by completing it. However, students felt that some questions were repetitive and took time to complete. Conclusions The Tool has construct and discriminant validity, and high internal consistency (is reliable). In addition, students found the Tool useful, especially in early stages of education. Relevance to clinical practice The Tool affords student nurses and midwives the opportunity to self-evaluate their knowledge, skills and attitudes about spirituality and spiritual care. The Tool offers students, educators and preceptors in clinical practice a tangible way of discussing and evaluating spiritual care competency

Strengths and challenges with spiritual care: Student feedback from the EPICC Spiritual Care Self-Assessment Tool

Aim: To explore qualitative data from students' self-reported competencies in spiritual care gathered during testing of a student self-assessment tool based on the EPICC Spiritual Care Education Standard. Design: Reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative data from a multinational study on validating a new self-assessment tool. Methods: The EPICC Spiritual Care Education Standard for competency in spiritual care was developed to enhance nurses' and midwives' ability to provide spiritual care by creating a baccalaureate education standard for spiritual care competencies. Spiritual care researchers then developed a self-assessment tool to raise student awareness of spirituality and track personal and professional growth in spiritual care competency. The EPICC Spiritual Care Competency Self-Assessment Tool, tested at eight universities in five countries, provided many opportunities for student comments, resulting in rich qualitative data presented here. Results: Themes related to strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. Identified strengths were similar across countries: caring attitudes, general knowledge of caring and compassion and good communication skills. Weaknesses/challenges touched on spirituality as overlooked in some cultures but part of life for others, complex questions were hard to understand, and self-assessment tools are common for some and rare for others. Areas for improvement included need for knowledge of religious and other deeply held beliefs and for greater spiritual assessment skills. Similarities across countries related to basic training in communication and compassionate care for nurses globally. Differences lay in the challenges and/or barriers for spiritual care and may relate to cultures within countries and/or university test sites. Relevance to clinical practice: The Tool raises awareness of spirituality among students and working nurses, providing an accessible way to self-check personal and professional growth in spiritual care competencies, which increases student and nurse capacity to become more knowledgeable and skilled in facilitating spiritual care, thus be role models for students at the intersection of spirituality and health

Nursing and midwifery students' perceptions of spirituality, spiritual care, and spiritual care competency: A prospective, longitudinal, correlational European study

Background Nurses and midwives care for people at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, so it is essential that they have the skills to give care which is compassionate, dignified, holistic and person-centred. Holistic care includes spiritual care which is concerned with helping people whose beliefs, values and sense of meaning, purpose and connection is challenged by birth, illness or death. Spiritual care is expected of nurses/midwives but they feel least prepared for this part of their role. How nursing and midwifery students can be prepared for spiritual care is the focus of this study. Objectives 1. To describe undergraduate nursing and midwifery student's perceptions of spirituality/spiritual care, their perceived competence in giving spiritual care and how these perceptions change over time. 2. To explore factors contributing to development of spiritual care competency. Methods Prospective, longitudinal, multinational, correlational survey design. A convenience sample of 2193 undergraduate nursing and midwifery students (69% response rate, dropping to 33%) enrolled at 21 universities in eight countries completed questionnaires capturing demographic data (purpose designed questionnaire) and measuring perception of spirituality/spiritual care (SSCRS), spiritual care competency (SCCS), spiritual wellbeing (JAREL) and spiritual attitude and involvement (SAIL) on 4 occasions (start of course n = 2193, year 2 n = 1182, year 3 n = 736, end of course n = 595) between 2011 and 2015. Data were analysed using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses as appropriate. Results Perceived competency increased significantly over the course of students' study which they attributed to caring for patients, events in their own lives and teaching/discussion in university. Two factors were significantly correlated with perceived spiritual care competency: perception of spirituality/spiritual care, where a broad view was preferable, and personal spirituality, where high spiritual wellbeing (JAREL) and spiritual attitude and involvement (SAIL) scores were preferable. Conclusions We have provided the first international evidence that perceived spiritual care competence is developed in undergraduate nursing and midwifery students and that students' perceptions of spirituality and personal spirituality contribute to that development. Implications for teaching and learning and student selection are discussed. The study is limited by attrition which is common in longitudinal research

Nurses’ Perceptions of Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Different Health Care Settings in the Netherlands

This paper shows similarities and differences in perceptions and competences regarding spirituality and spiritual care of nurses in different health care settings. Research on this specific topic is limited and can contribute towards a nuanced implementation of spiritual care in different nursing care settings. Four hundred forty nine nurses in different health care settings completed a questionnaire concerning spirituality and spiritual care, spiritual care competence, and personal spirituality. Respondents reported a generic (instead of more specific) view of spirituality and spiritual care, and they perceived themselves to be competent in providing spiritual care. Compared to nurses in hospital settings, nurses in mental health care and home care have a more generic view of spirituality and spiritual care and report a higher level of competence. Next to this, they perceive themselves more as spiritual persons. Future research is needed to develop further understanding in setting specific factors and their influence on nurses’ views and competence regarding spiritual care. Nursing education and management should consider an emphasis on spiritual competence development related to working settings of nurses

Handleiding Mont Ventoux on Wheels

De handleiding Mont Ventoux on Wheels is ontwikkeld door Stichting WIEL en Werkplaats Sociaal Domein. In 2017-2018 wordt (evaluatie)onderzoek gedaan naar praktijkervaringen met de aanpak van Mont Ventoux on Wheels. De kern van Mont Ventoux on Wheels is dat een gemengde groep van deelnemers, vrijwilligers en professionals een sportieve uitdaging aangaat. Deze groep mensen stelt letterlijk een hoog doel waarnaar wordt toegewerkt. Het beklimmen van de Mont Ventoux is een enorme fysieke en mentale uitdaging voor hen allemaal. Ook zijn andere (sportieve) uitdagingen mogelijk. De aanpak binnen Mont Ventoux on Wheels zorgt ervoor dat groepen verbonden worden met elkaar. Ze leren elkaar kennen, begrijpen en vertrouwen en ze merken dat ze elkaar sterker kunnen maken (participatiegedachte)

Chronisch gebruik maagmiddelen. Wie zijn de chronische gebruikers van maagmiddelen?

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Screening patient spirituality and spiritual needs in oncology nursing

Item does not contain fulltextAIM.: To select 2 appropriate spiritual assessment tools and evaluate these by involving oncology nurses. BACKGROUND.: Spirituality is recognized as an important domain of cancer care. At admission, integration of spiritual assessment seems necessary. It is unclear what kind of spiritual assessment method would be most preferable. DESIGN.: This study has an explorative and qualitative design. METHODS.: Spiritual assessment tools were identified by means of a systematic literature search. Two tools were selected by a 4-step selection procedure. Evaluation of these tools took place by interviewing Dutch oncology nurses (n = 8). The interviews were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS.: Of the 120 assessment tools collected, the Spiritual Health Inventory tool and the Spiritual History tool remained for further evaluation. The 8 oncology nurses did not have a unifying opinion on spiritual assessment in general, but they all agreed that in nursing practice a structural integration of spiritual assessment is lacking. The nurses preferred the use of the Spiritual Health tool for its "checklist like" approach. It seems that this tool gives them a concrete procedure to follow. CONCLUSIONS.: The diversity of operationalizing spirituality is reflected in the amount of collected tools. By choosing an assessment tool, cultural related aspects should be taken in consideration

Geloof in zorg : transparantie en participatie: Onderzoek naar profiel, context en toerustingsbehoefte van christenprofessionals in de zorg

In opdracht van de organisatoren van het congres Geloof in zorg hebben de lectoraten Verpleegkundige beroepsethiek en Zorg en spiritualiteit een onderzoek gedaan onder christenen in de zorg. De vraagstelling van het onderzoek was: Wat is het profiel van een christenzorgverlener, hoe verhoudt zich dat profiel tot de context waarin men werkzaam is, en welke toerustingsbehoefte vloeit daar uit voort? Een online vragenlijst is verspreid onder christenzorgverleners die lid zijn van christelijke beroepsorganisaties en onder studenten van christelijke MBO en HBO-instellingen. Christenzorgverleners zijn van mening dat er een relatie is tussen geloof en werk en zij putten inspiratie uit de directe zorgverlening en contact met patiënten

Factors contributing to student nurses'/midwives' perceived competencynin spiritual care

Background The spiritual part of life is important to health, well-being and quality of life. Spiritual care is expected of nurses/midwives, but it is not clear how students can achieve competency in spiritual care at point of registration as required by regulatory bodies. Aim To explore factors contributing to undergraduate nurses'/midwives' perceived competency in giving spiritual care. Design A pilot cross-sectional, multinational, correlational survey design. Method Questionnaires were completed by 86% (n = 531) of a convenience sample of 618 undergraduate nurses/midwives from six universities in four countries in 2010. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results Differences between groups were small. Two factors were significantly related to perceived spiritual care competency: perception of spirituality/spiritual care and student's personal spirituality. Students reporting higher perceived competency viewed spirituality/spiritual care broadly, not just in religious terms. This association between perceived competency and perception of spirituality is a new finding not previously reported. Further results reinforce findings in the literature that own spirituality was a strong predictor of perceived ability to provide spiritual care, as students reporting higher perceived competency engaged in spiritual activities, were from secular universities and had previous healthcare experience. They were also religious, practised their faith/belief and scored highly on spiritual well-being and spiritual attitude/involvement. Conclusions The challenge for nurse/midwifery educators is how they might enhance spiritual care competency in students who are not religious and how they might encourage students who hold a narrow view of spirituality/spiritual care to broaden their perspective to include the full range of spiritual concerns that patients/clients may encounter. Statistical models created predicted factors contributing to spiritual care competency to some extent but the picture is complex requiring further investigation involving a bigger and more diverse longitudinal sample