WJC09 Session 2 - What Difference Does Religion & Spirituality Make to Parents Making Difficult Medical Decisions? Exploring a Longitudinal Qualitative Study

Description:

Overview:
Through an innovative method, a longitudinal qualitative study including the perspectives of providers, the researchers in this study explored how parents utilize their religion and spirituality as surrogate decision-makers for their children. Relevant to all chaplains who work with surrogate decision-makers, this study explores aspects of decision-making including having Hope & Faith, belief that God is in Control, belief in Miracles, and the use of Prayer. The majority of parents in this study affirmed that religion and spirituality directly influence decision-making. This session will be an excellent opportunity to consider how patients and families use religion/spirituality in decision-making and what the chaplain’s role may be.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how parents in this study described their use of religion and spirituality as surrogate decision-makers for their children
• Understand provider perspectives on parents use of religion and spirituality in medical decisions
• Consider the role of the chaplain in assessing for use of religion and spirituality in medical decisions and communication with the medical team

Reading:
Superdock, A. K., Barfield, R. C., Brandon, D. H., & Docherty, S. L. (2018). Exploring the vagueness of Religion & Spirituality in complex pediatric decision-making: a qualitative study. BMC Palliative Care, 17(1), 107

Presenters:
Rev. Marilyn J. D. Barnes MS MA MPH BCC, is a Vice President of Mission and Spiritual Care in the Advocate Aurora Health Care System in Illinois. She previously served as a Senior Staff Chaplain at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. She is a 2018 Transforming Chaplaincy Fellow graduate. Her research interests include the use of simulation in chaplaincy training and education, the impact of spiritual/religious coping on the association between discrimination and stress among midlife women, and the experiences of health care chaplains of color.

Cate Michelle Desjardins MDiv MPH, is the Executive Director of Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship and convener of the Pediatrics Spiritual Care Research Network. She previously served for five years in various roles at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Her research interests include the role of religion in surrogate decision-making and in coping with caregiving for children with complex medical needs. She completed the Transforming Chaplaincy Research Fellowship in 2019.

Rev. Shelley Varner-Perez MDiv MPH BCC CPH, is Senior Program Manager and Chaplain-Researcher at Indiana University (IU) Health, Indianapolis, as well as an Affiliated Research Scientist in the Center for Aging Research with the Regenstrief Institute. She previously served nine years as a chaplain at VA Portland Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. She completed the Transforming Chaplaincy Research Fellowship in 2019 at the conclusion of a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology. Her research interests include spiritual care with family surrogate decision-makers and staff support following code blue events, as well as using art to engage those who are non-religious/unaffiliated.

How It Works:
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