Awareness and Preferences for Health Care Chaplaincy Services Among US Adults

Health care chaplains intervene on unmet religious/spiritual (R/S) needs in health care settings that are associated with poor outcomes. Little is known about demand for their services. The purpose of this study was to describe population-level awareness and perceptions of health care chaplains and preferences for their services.

Data came from a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of US adults ≥ 18 years of age (n = 1020). Participants were asked about preferences for chaplain services, previous experience and awareness of chaplains, and level of importance on having R/S needs and sources of meaning addressed.

Mean age of the sample was 47.6. Although the majority were aware of chaplains (85%), only 15% indicated they had previous experience with one. Adults who were unaware were younger (38 vs 49 years, p < .001), male (P = .007), non-white race/ethnicity (p < .001), and had lower educational attainment (P = .01). Seventy percent reported an interest in having R/S or existential needs met in the context of health care.

The majority of the US population say they are aware of chaplains and desire their services, yet few report previous experience with them in health care. More behavioral interventions are needed to better connect patients to chaplains.