Prehospital Spirituality: How Well Do We Know Ambulance Patients?

Timothy B. Jang · George D. Kryder · Douglas Mark Char · Randy Howell · Joseph Mueri Primrose · David K. Tan

16 citations0/0 files storedPrehospital and Disaster Medicine

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Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology Emergency and Acute Care Studies Workplace Spirituality and Leadership

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the religious spirituality of EMS personnel and their perception of the spiritual needs of ambulance patients. METHODS: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics presenting to an urban, academic emergency department (ED) were asked to complete a three-part survey relating to demographics, personal practices, and perceived patient needs. Their responses were compared to those of ambulance patients presenting to an ED during a previous study period and administered a similar survey. RESULTS: A total of 143 EMTs and 89 paramedics returned the surveys. There were 161 (69.4%) male and 71 (30.6%) female respondents with a median age range of 26-35 years old. Eighty-seven percent believed in God, 82% practiced prayer or meditation, 62% attended religious services occasionally, 55% belonged to a religious organization, 39% felt that their beliefs affected their job, and 18% regularly read religious material. This was similar to the characteristics of ambulance patients. However, only 43% felt that occasionally ambulance patients presented with spiritual concerns and 78% reported never or rarely discussing spiritual issues with patients. Contrastingly, > 40% of ambulance patients reported spiritual needs or concerns at the time of ED presentation, and > 50% wanted their providers to discuss their beliefs. Twenty-six percent of respondents reported praying or meditating with patients, while 50% reported praying or meditating for patients. Females were no more religious or spiritual than males, but were more likely to engage in prayer with (OR = 2.38, p = 0.0049) or for (OR = 6.45, p < 0.0001) patients than their male counterparts. CONCLUSION: EMTs and paramedics did not perceive spiritual concerns as often as reported by ambulance patients, nor did they commonly inquire about the religious/spiritual needs of patients.

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References

1994Beliefs and attitudes of hospital inpatients about faith healing and prayer.2003Patient preference for physician discussion and practice of spirituality 1999Addressing spiritual concerns of patients: family physicians' attitudes and practices.1991Religion and family medicine: a survey of physicians and patients.1999Spiritual and religious beliefs and practices of family physicians: a national survey.

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2014Hospitalized Asian Patients and Their Spiritual Needs 2013American Indians and Spiritual Needs During Hospitalization: Developing a Model of Spiritual Care

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