An e-Delphi study on integrated curriculum standards for healthcare chaplaincy education

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Clinical Pastoral Education
• Professional Standards

Background:

• Healthcare chaplaincy education in the US lacks standardized curriculum guidelines.
• This leads to inconsistent training and preparation for clinical practice.
• Existing programs require a cohesive framework aligned with healthcare needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve consensus on curriculum standards for healthcare chaplaincy education.
• To address the gap in standardized training and preparation.
• To develop a cohesive framework for current and new programs.

Main Methods:

• A modified e-Delphi methodology was employed.
• Nineteen experts participated in a three-round consensus process.
• Participants evaluated 78 knowledge and skill competencies across eight proposed domains.

Main Results:

• Over 75% agreement was achieved on all domains and competencies.
• 58% of competencies reached at least 90% agreement.
• Consensus was reached on essential academic and clinical competencies.

Conclusions:

• The established curriculum standards bridge divides in healthcare chaplaincy education.
• These standards provide a roadmap for transforming chaplaincy training.
• Future chaplains will be better equipped to meet spiritual needs in complex healthcare environments.