Hospital chaplains facing the pandemic. A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare
• Sociology
• Psychology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally.
• Spiritual care is an integral component of holistic patient care, often provided by hospital chaplains.
• The pandemic's impact on the provision and perception of spiritual care in Poland remained under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore hospital chaplains' perspectives on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on spiritual care provision in Poland.
• To understand the challenges, needs, and experiences of chaplains during the pandemic.
• To assess the perceived changes in the visibility and role of hospital chaplaincy.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research approach was employed.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen hospital chaplains.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes from the interview data.

Main Results:

• Six main themes emerged: chaplains' pandemic experiences, chaplaincy during the outbreak, patient and health professional needs, social stigma, and the importance of spiritual care.
• The pandemic altered the nature and possibilities of spiritual care but increased the visibility of hospital chaplaincy.
• Chaplains reported experiencing social stigma and discriminatory behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Hospital chaplaincy's visibility and recognition increased due to the COVID-19 crisis.
• The study underscores the significant contribution of hospital chaplains to modern healthcare.
• There is a need for greater recognition of chaplains as key healthcare workers and their integration into the healthcare system.