Palliative Chaplain Spiritual Assessment Progress Notes

Abstract

Research question “What is helpful as well as missing from palliative chaplain spiritual assessment progress notes?" arose from the context of seeking to know how palliative chaplain spiritual assessment progress notes can best be relevant and make a difference for a patient’s care. Seven focus groups, two of which were in a children’s hospital context, were hosted with 42 non-chaplain palliative team participants. The major results revealed four important considerations for palliative care chaplains. First, palliative interprofessional team members want more help and information regarding a patient’s decision-making, especially related to a patient’s religion and/or spirituality. Second, and in line with palliative care principles, the participants discussed their desire for relevant notation on a patient’s sense of suffering and coping. Third, a request was made for the chaplain to consistently document his/her perception of emotion emerging from the patient and/or family. The last major result to emerge was that the progress notes should have a summary content section at the top of the note with the most important information contained there.