A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of a Well-Being Intervention for Healthcare Chaplains.

This mixed-methods pilot study explored the psychological and emotional experiences of chaplains and the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of workshops designed to support chaplain well-being. After the workshops, scores on a measure of self-compassion increased, while secondary traumatic stress and burnout scores decreased. Qualitative data reflected the range of experiences of chaplaincy as well as the benefits of the workshops. This pilot study supports further exploration of organizational interventions to promote chaplain well-being.

Managing Spiritual Care Departments During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

This qualitative study reports how 20 spiritual care leaders provided leadership in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The patterns and themes that emerged centered around the changing world of chaplaincy, the administrative role of the leader, and the personal story of the leader. Spiritual care leaders demonstrated creativity with the potential to shape chaplaincy in positive ways, expanding the reach of spiritual care.

Team Lavender Supports Healthcare Workers: "Our Spiritual, Emotional and Mental Health Matters".

Team Lavender, a coordinated response team addresses the spiritual, emotional, and psychological needs of healthcare workers following adverse events and accumulated stress, including Covid-19. Proven to be a valuable peer-to-peer support team in reducing stress levels. Team Lavender is modeled from Code Lavender in the United States. This article addresses the background to justify the need of Team Lavender, its' significance in a regional acute care setting, and justification for implementing Team Lavender.

A Theologian's Memoir in Time of Pandemic.

As a theology professor in a Catholic University, we are trained to teach minds, touch hearts, and transform lives. But a professor gains deeper understanding of the importance of teaching theology in time of COVID-19 pandemic. My theology is rooted in my personal religious and spiritual experiences. Therefore, experience led me to construct three themes: "Light of Faith"; "The True, Good and Beautiful"; "Religious and Spiritual Experiences."

Delivering Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Remotely: Educators' Views and Perspectives During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.

Many Clinical Pastoral Education programs pivoted to remote delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our survey explored educators' preparedness, self-efficacy, and views regarding remote Clinical Pastoral Education. Few respondents were either very (14.2%) or not at all (16.5%) prepared. Most were confident facilitating remote learning (69.8%-88.5%), believing remote Clinical Pastoral Education can achieve outcomes equivalent to in-person (59.1%). Six qualitative themes emerged: educator development, educator challenges, remote Clinical Pastoral Education efficacy, remote group dynamics, clinical practice/supervision implications, and benefits and opportunities.

The Perceptions and Lived Experiences of African-American Pastors at the Onslaught of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mississippi.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore perceptions and lived experiences of African-American pastors addressing the onslaught of COVID-19 with their congregation. Thirty-seven pastors representing various denominations from across Mississippi participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. From the data, five themes emerged including (1) Pastors' relentlessness, (2) Pastors' adoption of new technology, (3) Maximized social capital, (4) Unintended consequences resulting from COVID-19, and (5) Unintended benefits resulting from COVID-19.

GUIDANCE as "God, You, and I Dance" and COUNSELING as "Communicate yourself in God": A Personal Reflection as an Educator and a Counselor in the COVID-19 Crisis.

In this article, the author describes two ways that can be done during this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, namely through GUIDANCE and COUNSELING. The author freely translates that GUIDANCE as "God, You, and I Dance" and COUNSELING as "Communicate yourself in God". In the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, this article offers new insights into the search for meaning and a long-term purpose in life.

Reflections at the Time of Covid-19: The Doctor Becomes the Patient.

As a family physician, we are trained to practice a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach for a holistic patient care. But a doctor gains deeper appreciation for the importance of addressing a patient's spirituality once he becomes a patient himself. My spirituality played a role in my recovery as a patient. This experience led me to appreciate the unique role a patient's spirituality can play in one's recovery. It has given me a different experience with God.

COVID-19 and Clinical Pastoral Education: How ACPE Educators Pivoted Amid the Pandemic.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs faced extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined how ACPE-certified educators responded to maintain program delivery. Survey results (n = 210) suggested a substantial and abrupt increase in remote delivery for CPE instruction and supervised clinical practice, primarily driven by those previously fully in-person. Respondents reported abrupt changes impacted 1152 students. Participants rated their utilization and helpfulness of professional, organizational, and technology resources during the pivot and beyond.

Recognizing the Role of Chaplaincy in Healthcare: Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult and trying time, but as most situations in life, it brought both good and bad side effects. Concerning chaplaincy, COVID-19 reveals that we have not arrived yet in the effort to incorporate spiritual care into essential health care delivery. Although chaplaincy is beginning to have a voice, we have been mostly speaking to ourselves. We need an advocacy voice that healthcare systems and policy makers can hear.

Chaplain Leadership During COVID-19: An International Expert Panel.

Chaplain leadership may have played a pivotal role in shaping chaplains' roles in health care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We convened an international expert panel to identify expert perception on key chaplain leadership factors. Six leadership themes of professional confidence, engaging and trust-building with executives, decision-making, innovation and creativity, building integrative and trusting connections with colleagues, and promoting cultural competencies emerged as central to determining chaplains' integration, perceived value, and contributions during the pandemic.

Engaging African American Pastors in COVID-19 Research During a Pandemic: Lessons Learned.

African American pastors are recognized as trusted information sources for their communities. The pastors willing to address health-related concerns such as preventing the spread of the coronavirus are invaluable for leading their congregation through relevant health programs. Underlining the importance of religion, spirituality, and faith-based leaders in addressing and furthering health promotion research, the article discusses lessons learned during the study implementation and the recommendations for engaging minority pastors in research during a global health pandemic.

Music as a Healing Medicine in COVID-19 Pandemic.

This article presents that the use of music like "A Prayer for Nation" during the COVID-19 outbreak is an alternative healing medicine helping people to reduce their loneliness, depression, stress, and anxiety. In a multicultural, pluralistic country like Indonesia, this song has the pastoral power to uplift, unite, and heal.

Connect Group is one of the Coping Stresses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 makes life more stressful. When we face it alone, it will make us not only stress but can depress. Connect with others through the right group can be the good Coping stress during COVID-19. Even though we cannot go anywhere, we cannot meet each other face to face, but COVID-19 has not defeated our social life.

Perspectives of board-certified healthcare chaplains on challenges and adaptations in delivery of spiritual care in the COVID-19 era: Findings from an online survey.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges for healthcare systems to meet patients' and families' complex care needs, including spiritual care needs. Little data are available about spiritual care delivery in light of the pandemic. AIM: This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on spiritual care by healthcare chaplains in the United States. DESIGN: An online survey of 563 board-certified chaplains was conducted from March to July 2020. The survey, designed to identify chaplains' roles in facilitating conversations about goals of care, included an open-ended question asking how COVID-19 affected chaplaincy practices; 236 chaplains responded. Quantitative data and written qualitative responses were analyzed using descriptive analysis and content analysis, respectively. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Majority of participants were white (88%), female (59%), Protestant (53%), and employed full time (86%). Almost half were working in community hospitals (45%) and designated to one or more special units (48%) including ICU, palliative care, and oncology. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged from chaplains' qualitative responses: (1) COVID-19-related risk mitigation and operational changes; (2) impact of social distancing guidelines; and (3) increased need for and provision of psychosocial and spiritual support. CONCLUSIONS: Chaplains reported that COVID-19 challenges contributed to greater social isolation, and mental health concerns for patients, families, and healthcare staff, and substantially changed the way healthcare chaplains provided spiritual care. With evolving healthcare contexts, developing safer, more creative modes of spiritual care delivery while offering systematic support for chaplains can help meet the increasing psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients, families, and healthcare team members.

Providing Comfort through Music to People Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Humanitarian Disaster.

Hopefully, through this article, mental health workers, such as counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, doctors, religious leaders, and social workers, can consider music as a good alternative in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic. It is hoped that mental health workers who are currently struggling to care for everyone's psychological health in their respective countries can provide comfort through collective music activities.

Remembering.

This reflection heightens the value of the role of chaplain during the time of the pandemic.

Initial Real Time Coping by African American Christians During the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19).

Seventy-three telephone interviews during the initial COVID-19 shutdown explored coping strategies among African American Christians. Open-ended questions and Likert-type scale items assessed faith, advice given, helpful Scriptures, worship practices, belief in God, and religion and spirituality's importance. Most participants reported coping well and following governmental guidelines. Frequent church attendance before the shutdown was significantly associated with less worrying and being less anxious. Married individuals also reported less worrying. We discuss limitations, future research, and implications.