Organization: Africa Inland Church Kijabe Hospital
Background/Context:
Spiritual care is increasingly recognized as a vital component of holistic patient care globally. It involves addressing patients’ spiritual needs through attentive listening, obtaining spiritual histories, and incorporating spiritual practices to support their overall well-being. Research has shown that spiritual care can positively impact health outcomes, particularly for those with serious illnesses. However, there are challenges in its implementation, including a lack of clear definitions, responsibility confusion, and insufficient training for healthcare providers. In Kenya, hospitals like AIC Kijabe Hospital face these challenges, relying on limited chaplaincy services and healthcare providers who may not be adequately trained to offer spiritual care. This project aims to assess and improve the knowledge and practice of spiritual care among the hospital’s staff to enhance patient care.
This project is funded by: A Meros Center small project grant thanks to donors like you
Research Questions:
- How do clinical and non-clinical staff at AIC Kijabe Hospital understand and practice spiritual care?
- What are the gaps in their knowledge and practices that can be addressed to improve holistic patient care by integrating faith and health?
Study Aims:
- To evaluate the current level of understanding of spiritual care among clinical and non-clinical staff at AIC Kijabe Hospital
- To examine how spiritual care is currently practiced by clinical and non-clinical staff, identifying any gaps or inconsistencies.
- To identify the barriers that prevent staff from providing effective spiritual care and the facilitators that can enhance their ability to do so.
Impact:
The project aims to improve patient care by integrating spiritual care into the healthcare framework. This holistic approach will address both physical and emotional needs, leading to better health outcomes such as improved quality of life, enhanced coping mechanisms, and greater patient satisfaction. The project is culturally relevant, acknowledging the unique spiritual needs of the local population and fostering trust between patients and healthcare providers. The findings could inform broader community health initiatives by providing evidence-based recommendations on integrating spiritual care into public health strategies. This could lead to widespread improvements in health services across Kiambu County and the country at large. The project’s structured approach to spiritual care at AIC Kijabe Hospital will provide the groundwork for sustainable practices, ensuring knowledge retention and promoting a culture of holistic care that can be passed down through generations of healthcare providers. This approach could be scaled further to other healthcare institutions within the region.
Open Positions: (Fully staffed)
Timeline: January 2025 – October 2025
