Citation

Torke AM, Maiko S, Watson BN, Ivy SS, Burke ES, Montz K, Rush SA, Slaven JE, Kozinski K, Axel-Adams R, Cottingham A. J. Health Care Chaplain 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-22.

Affiliation

Center for Health Services Research , Regenstrief Institute, Inc. , Indianapolis , Indiana.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08854726.2019.1580979

PMID

31038008

Abstract

In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), family members experience psychological and spiritual distress as they cope with fear, grief, and medical decisions for patients. The study team developed and pilot tested a semistructured chaplain intervention that included proactive contact and spiritual assessment, interventions, and documentation. An interdisciplinary team developed the intervention, the Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI) Framework. Three chaplains delivered the intervention to surrogates in two ICUs. There were 25 of 73 eligible patient/surrogate dyads enrolled. Surrogates had a mean age of 57.6, were 84% female and 32% African American. The majority (84%) were Protestant. All received at least one chaplain visit and 19 received three visits. All agreed they felt supported by the chaplains, and qualitative comments showed spiritual and emotional support were valued. A semistructured spiritual care intervention for ICU surrogates is feasible and acceptable. Future work is needed to demonstrate the intervention improves outcomes for surrogates and patients.

Language: en

Keywords

Chaplain; intensive care; proxy decision making; spiritual care; spiritual distress; surrogate