Research synthesis related to oncology family caregiver spirituality in palliative care

Research synthesis related to oncology family caregiver spirituality in palliative care 
Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Betty R. Ferrell, Tami Borneman, Marianna Koczywas, and Paul Galchutt;  10/21/24 online ahead of print 
Family caregivers are central to the delivery of serious illness care and also have needs related to their role and experience. One aspect of the family caregiver quality of life (QOL) that has received less attention is caregiver spirituality. The research objectives for this analysis were (1) Describe spirituality in oncology family caregivers. (2) Determine the impact of palliative care interventions on spirituality and related variables in oncology family caregivers. (3) Describe findings from the research literature related to spirituality in family caregivers. The authors include two nurse researchers (BF, TB) and a physician (MK) who conducted these studies and a board-certified chaplain (PG) who contributed his expertise in chaplaincy.  ... The authors' research synthesis and the literature support the importance of additional research and clinical focus in family caregiver spirituality in serious illness care. 
Editor's note: Calling all executive leaders, what do you understand to be the huge differences between hiring board certified chaplains versus preachers/pastors/religious leaders who focus on their own religious beliefs? What potentially harmful religious/spiritual cliches do your well-meaning but ill-prepared staff and volunteers make to patients and families? When your employees and volunteers encounter their own spiritual crises--via their direct patient care--what professional support is available for them? For more information, visit the Board of Chaplaincy Certification, Inc., Common Qualifications and Competencies. For a more personal conversation, click here to contact me (a board certified chaplain).