 How well trained are clergy in care of the dying patient and bereavement support? Although comparatively few people have regular contact with a church or spiritual
leader, during times of terminal illness or bereavement, clergy are expected
to be available and able to provide support. This study was carried out to determine
the perceptions of clergy on the training they had received in supporting the
dying patient and the bereaved. A sample of clergy working in the diocese of
Sheffield was sent a questionnaire to assess what skills and knowledge clergy
believed they had in this area, together with areas where they would wish for
further training. The questionnaire was developed with input from hospital,
hospice, and academic chaplains, and palliative care consultants. A subsidiary
questionnaire was sent to clergy training colleges to evaluate the teaching
offered. There was a trend across all denominations that those who had trained
more recently were more likely to have received relevant training. Most clergy
believed that they possessed adequate liturgical skills, but 13% felt they possessed
none or little skill in pastoral care of the dying. Seventy-one percent indicated
that they would like further training in pastoral care of the dying and 66.3%
desired training in care of the bereaved. Of the 50% of training colleges that
responded, the number of hours of training on pastoral care of the dying ranged
from 6 to 36 hours (median 23 hours and mean 25 hours) and only 26% believed
that their training in pastoral support skills was comprehensive. This study
suggests that care of the dying and the bereaved is identified by clergy as
an area in need of further training by the majority of clergy and should be
part of the core curriculum within clergy training colleges and late training
programs. Williams ML, Cobb M, Shiels C, Taylor F. From J
Pain Symptom Manage. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2006 Jul;32(1):44-51. |
| Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City ©2005 Continuum Health Partners, Inc. www.stoppain.org/palliative_care |
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