A systematic review on chaplains and community-based clergy in three palliative care journals: 1990

Abstract

A systematic review of all articles appearing between 1990 and 1999 in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, the Hospice Journal, and the Journal of Palliative Care was conducted. Articles citing at least one reference were categorized as scholarly, included in the study, and divided into either research or nonresearch categories. Scholarly articles were classified as research if they contained clearly defined methods and results sections, even if these headings were not used. Research and nonresearch articles were subdivided into qualitative and quantitative research and general reviews or program descriptions, respectively. All scholarly articles were read to see if they mentioned clergy, including the terms rabbi, priest, minister, pastor, imam, chaplain, or other religious professionals. Of 838 scholarly articles published between 1990 and 1999 in the three journals, 348 (41.5 percent) were research articles, 417 (49.8 percent) were reviews, and 73 (8.7 percent) were program descriptions. Forty-seven (5.6 percent) of all 838 scholarly articles mentioned clergy or chaplains in some way. Clergy and chaplains were more likely to be an integral part of research articles, whereas mention of them in nonresearch articles tended to be incidental (chi-square = 16.8, p < .001). Moreover, quantitative articles were more likely to include clergy as an integral aspect of the article than were qualitative articles (Fischer’s exact probability test, p = .088). The results are discussed with respect to the mutual roles hospice chaplains and community-based clergy play in providing spiritual care at the end of life.

Keywords

hospice clergy chaplaincy pastoral care end of life

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Weaver AJ , Revilla LA , Koenig HG : Counseling families across the stages of life: A handbook for pastors and other helping professionals. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2002.

Gallup GH , Bezilla R : The Religious Life of Young Americans. Princeton, NJ: Gallup International, 1992.

Hohmann AA , Larson DB : Psychiatric factors predicting use of clergy. In EL Worthington, Jr. (ed.), Psychotherapy and Religious Values. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1993, pp. 71-84.

Walczak K: personal communication, March 1, 2002.

Abramczyk LW : The counseling function of pastors: A study in practice and preparation. J Psychol Theol. 1981; 9: 257-265.

Ingram BL , Lowe DW : Counseling activities and referral practices of rabbis. J Psychol Judaism. 1989; 13(3): 133-148.

Wood NS : An inquiry into pastoral counseling ministry done by women in the parish setting. J Pastoral Care. 50(4): 340-348.

Wright PG : The counseling activities and referral practices of Canadian clergy in British Columbia. J Psychol Theol. 1984; 12: 294-304.

Francis LJ , Robbins M , Kay WK : Pastoral Care Today: Practice, Problems, and Priorities in Churches Today. Farnham, Surrey, UK: Waverley Christian Counseling, 2000.

10.

Lount M , Hargie ODW : The priest as counselor: An investigation of critical incidents in the pastoral work of Catholic priests. Couns Psychol Q. 1997; 10(3): 247-259.

11.

Veroff J , Kulka RA , Douvan E : Mental Health in America: Patterns of Help-Seeking from 1957 to 1976. New York: Basic Books, 1981.

12.

Koenig HG , McCulloch ME , Larson DB : Handbook on Religion and Health. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2001.

13.

Gallup GG , Lindsay DM : Surveying the Religious Landscape: Trends in US Beliefs. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1999.

14.

VandeCreek L , Burton L : Professional chaplaincy: Its role and importance in health-care. J Pastoral Care. 2001; 55(1): 81-97.

15.

Foliart DE , Clausen M , Siljestrom C : Bereavement practices among California hospices: Results of a statewide survey. Death Stud. 2001; 25(5): 461-467.

16.

Bryant C : Role clarification: A quality improvement survey of hospital chaplain customers. J Healthc Qual. 1993; 15(4): 18-20.

17.

Siegel JM , Kuykendall DH : Loss, widowhood, and psychological distress among the elderly. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1990; 58(5): 519-524.

18.

McMillan SC , Weitzner M : How problematic are various aspects of quality of life in patients with cancer at the end of life? Oncol Nurs Forum. 2000; 27(5): 817-823.

19.

McIntosh DN , Silver RC , Wortman CB : Religion’s role in adjustment to a negative life event: Coping with the loss of a child. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1993; 65(4): 812-821.

20.

Davis CG , Nolen-Hocksema S , Larson J : Making sense of loss and benefiting from the experience two construals of meaning. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1998; 75(2): 561-574.

21.

Hall SE : Spiritual diversity: A challenge for hospice chaplains. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1997; 14(5): 221-223.

22.

Kerr D : Mother Mary Aikenhead, the Irish Sisters of Charity, and Our Lady’s Hospice for the Dying. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1993; 10(3): 13-20.

23.

Perrino T : Developing a large, volunteer hospice chaplain network. Hosp J. 1996; 11(3): 95-101.

24.

Babler JE : A comparison of spiritual care provided by social workers, nurses, and spiritual care professionals. Hosp J. (1997; 12(4): 15-26.

25.

Millison MB , Dudley JR : Providing spiritual support: A job for all hospice professionals. Hosp J. 1992; 8(4): 49-66.

26.

Reese DJ , Brown DR : Psychosocial and spiritual care in hospice: Differences between nursing, social work, and clergy. Hosp J. 1997; 12(1): 29-41.

27.

Millison MB , Dudley JR : The importance of spirituality in hospice work: A study of hospice professionals. Hosp J. 1990; 6(3): 63-78.

28.

Sontag MA : Hospice as providers of total care in one western state. Hosp J. 1996; 11(3): 71-94.

29.

Petersen S : Beyond hospice care: A survey of community outreach programs. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1992; 9(1): 15-22.

30.

Bly JL , Kissick P : Hospice care for patients living alone: Results of a demonstration program. Hosp J. 1994; 9(4): 9-20.

31.

Plumb JD , Segraves M : Terminal care in primary care postgraduate medical education programs: A national study. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1992; 9(3): 32-35.

32.

Knight CF , Knight PF , Gellula MH , et al. : Training our future physicians: A hospice rotation for medical students. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1992; 9(1): 23-28.

33.

Bunston T , Elliott M , Rapuch S : A psychosocial summary flow sheet: Facilitating the coordination of care, enhancing the quality of care. J Palliat Care. 1993; 9(1): 14-22.

34.

Rutman D , Parke B : Palliative care needs of residents, families, and staff in long-term care facilities. J Palliat Care. 1992; 8(2): 23-29.

35.

Gochman DS , Bonham GS : The social structure of the hospice decision. Hosp J. 1990; 6(1): 15-36.

36.

Wilker HI , Lowell B : Bereavement services development in a rural setting. Hosp J. 1996; 11(4): 25-39.

37.

Weaver AJ , Koenig HG , Larson DB : Marriage and family therapists and the clergy: A need for clinical collaboration, training, and research. J Marital Fam Ther. 1997; 23(1): 13-25.

38.

Weaver AJ , Samford JA , Morgan VJ , et al. : A systematic review of research in six primary marriage and family journals: 1995-1999. Am J Fam Ther. 2002; 30: 293-309.

39.

Weaver AJ , Flannelly LT , Flannelly KJ , et al. : A 10-year review of research on chaplains and community-based clergy in three primary oncology nursing journals: 1990-1999. Cancer Nurs. 2001; 24(5): 335-340.

40.

Koenig HG , Bearon LB , Hover M , et al. : Religious perspectives of doctors, nurses, patients, and families. J Pastoral Care. 1991; 45(3): 254-267.

41.

VandeCreek L , Siegel K , Gorey E , et al. : How many chaplains per 100 inpatients? Benchmarks of health care chaplaincy departments. J Pastoral Care. 2001; 55(3): 289-301.

42.

Virkler HA : Counseling demands, procedures, and preparation of parish ministers: A descriptive study. J Psychol Theol. 1979; 7(4); 271-280.

43.

Lowe DW : Counseling activities and referral practices of ministers. J Pastoral Care. 1986; 5(1): 22-28.

44.

Bell RA , Morris RR , Holzer CE , et al. : The clergy as a mental health resource: Parts I and II. J Pastoral Care. 1976; 30(2): 103-115.

45.

Mannon JD , Crawford RL : Clergy confidence to counsel and their willingness to refer to mental health professionals. Fam Ther. 1996; 23(3): 212-231.

A systematic review on chaplains and community-based clergy in three palliative care journals: 1990 - 1999

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References