The Role and Value of Chaplains in the Ambulance Service: Paramedic Perspectives

Katie Tunks Leach; Paul Simpson; Joanne Lewis; Tracy Levett-Jones

doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01446-9

The Role and Value of Chaplains in the Ambulance Service: Paramedic Perspectives

Katie Tunks Leach, Paul Simpson, Joanne Lewis, Tracy Levett-Jones

Nursing

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8 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Chaplains are employed by ambulance services in many states across Australia as one element in a suite of initiatives to support the health and wellness of paramedics. The aim of this paper is to present key findings from a study that explored paramedic perspectives on the role and value of chaplains in the ambulance service. Seventeen paramedics participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Two themes were identified: scope of the chaplain’s role and organisational factors influencing the chaplain’s role. Paramedics highly valued what they believed to be proactive and reactive support provided by ambulance chaplains, regardless of paramedics’ personal spiritual or religious beliefs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	929-947
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journal of Religion and Health
Volume	61
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01446-9
Publication status	Published - Apr 2022

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Cite this

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title = "The Role and Value of Chaplains in the Ambulance Service: Paramedic Perspectives",

abstract = "Chaplains are employed by ambulance services in many states across Australia as one element in a suite of initiatives to support the health and wellness of paramedics. The aim of this paper is to present key findings from a study that explored paramedic perspectives on the role and value of chaplains in the ambulance service. Seventeen paramedics participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Two themes were identified: scope of the chaplain{\textquoteright}s role and organisational factors influencing the chaplain{\textquoteright}s role. Paramedics highly valued what they believed to be proactive and reactive support provided by ambulance chaplains, regardless of paramedics{\textquoteright} personal spiritual or religious beliefs.",

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note = "Funding Information: Thank you to New South Wales Ambulance for your support of this project and assistance in sourcing participants. Thank you also to Anglican Deaconess Ministries for supporting KTL with a fellowship allowing her to take time away from work to focus on her research during 2020. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",

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doi = "10.1007/s10943-021-01446-9",

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AU - Lewis, Joanne

AU - Levett-Jones, Tracy

N1 - Funding Information: Thank you to New South Wales Ambulance for your support of this project and assistance in sourcing participants. Thank you also to Anglican Deaconess Ministries for supporting KTL with a fellowship allowing her to take time away from work to focus on her research during 2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).

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N2 - Chaplains are employed by ambulance services in many states across Australia as one element in a suite of initiatives to support the health and wellness of paramedics. The aim of this paper is to present key findings from a study that explored paramedic perspectives on the role and value of chaplains in the ambulance service. Seventeen paramedics participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Two themes were identified: scope of the chaplain’s role and organisational factors influencing the chaplain’s role. Paramedics highly valued what they believed to be proactive and reactive support provided by ambulance chaplains, regardless of paramedics’ personal spiritual or religious beliefs.

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KW - Paramedic

KW - Emergency medical services

KW - Well-being

KW - Chaplaincy

KW - Spiritual care

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DO - 10.1007/s10943-021-01446-9

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The Role and Value of Chaplains in the Ambulance Service: Paramedic Perspectives

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