Patients say pastoral care improves their hospital experience

24 Feb 2017

24 February 2017

To shed some light on the topic, St John of God Burwood Hospital went out and asked their patients: “What difference does pastoral care make to your hospital experience?”

The results of the survey and several follow up focus groups found that most patients felt that meeting with a pastoral practitioner while in hospital had a significant and positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

St John of God Burwood Hospital Director of Mission, Andrew Nee said the survey results found that patients felt free to explore, one-on-one, what they wanted to discuss with the pastoral practitioner.

“They said that they (the patient) had defined the agenda in meeting with pastoral care as opposed to a clinical agenda.”

“Pastoral care provided a place to be free, as one respondent defined it, where they were listened to without judgement and consequently where they were better able to process their own thoughts,” Andrew said.

The cohort of patients’ surveyed was typically seen by consulting psychiatrists, psychologists and nursing caregivers, as well as pastoral services, while they were in hospital.

The respondents were able to explicitly identify the difference between the clinical care they’d received and that of pastoral care.

The research found that 87 per cent of patients used the time with pastoral care to discuss issues of their emotional health and wellbeing and 95 per cent were able to talk about what was on their mind.

“They felt it was an extra place to go for support.

“People found they benefited from pastoral care, even though some were surprised that they used the service,” Andrew said.

“They found a place where they could talk about their spiritual needs and faith background and they overwhelmingly reported that they felt their faith and beliefs were valued.”

The survey identified that pastoral care wasn’t just for ‘religious people’, while 53 per cent of respondents identified themselves as being religious, and 85 per cent considered themselves as
spiritual people.

The survey took the form of a questionnaire that was given to patients, over a three month period, before they were discharged from hospital. Overall, 99 patients took the time to provide input and a small group of them participated in a focus group to explore the data.

The study was designed by St John of God Burwood Hospital researcher, Josephine Farrell utilising an adapted version of a Patient Reported Outcome Measure developed by the NHS in Scotland.

What our patients say

“I realised listening to ourselves with compassion helps lesson our pain and suffering.”

“The opportunity to open up without judgement or social stigma helped me see the value I place on my spiritual wellbeing.”

“It was helpful to have someone who is not in a hurry to sit and patiently listen and validate how I feel with kindness and compassion.”