Unraveling impact and processes in healthcare chaplaincy. A quasi-experimental study in Belgium

This article reflects on the complexity of evaluating impact of chaplaincy and suggest unraveling processes and outcomes of healthcare chaplaincy. Our quasi-experimental study in Belgium aims to gain insight into the impact of hospital chaplaincy on inpatients' internal processes (acceptance, positive reappraisal, hope and within a religious subgroup also Positive Religious Coping (PRC) and Negative Religious Coping (NRC)). A group of patients who met with a hospital chaplain at least once was compared to a group who either did not request a chaplain or were not referred to one. A multilevel analysis shows significant PRC improvement at follow-up for the chaplaincy care group in comparison to the comparison group. The study underscores the need for more process-outcome research in chaplaincy, using a variety of research designs.