RELIGION AND BELIEF MATTER AN INFORMATION RESOURCE FOR HEALTHCARE STAFF Geoff Lachlan, Fair For All Religion & Belief Project, Scottish Inter Faith Council

THE GODFACTOR IN HEALTHCARE

Fair for All Religion and Belief Project Scottish Inter Faith Council Scottish Government Health Directorates Healthcare Chaplaincy Training and Development Unit

BACKGROUND HDL (2002) 76 Spiritual Care in NHS WHO Definition of “Health” New Religious Legislation The ‘need’ for FFA Religion ‘Guidance’

Methodology Visit to all 14 territorial Health Boards –Lead Chaplains –Equality/Diversity Officers 13 Faith / Belief Focus Groups Literature search for evidence base

Aims of Project 1.To review the context for responding to religious and belief needs 2.To review the evidence base for supporting Healthcare Chaplaincy

What is the Context? Christian64%3,294,600 Muslim0.84%42,000 Buddhist0.13%6,800 Sikh0.13%6,600 Jewish0.13%6,400 Hindu0.11%5,600 Others0.53%27,000 No Religion27.5%1,394,500 Not answered6.5%

“RELIGION IN BRITAIN SINCE 1945,” Grace Davie (1994) “Believing without belonging………..”

Christian Roots, Contemporary Society, Lynda Barley, % believe in a ‘patterning’ to life 67% believe in a Supernatural Force 69% believe in a Soul 76% admit to a ‘Religious/Spiritual’ experience

New Trends in Religions Data % Attending church regularly now increased for first time since 1950s……… nearly all due to Catholic East European migration.

New Legislation Employment Equality (Religion/Belief) Regulations 2003 Equality Act (Part 2) 2006

Religion / Belief is Different to Other Equalities Not so legislation- driven Chosen, unlike age, disability, gender, ethnicity, sex orientation Spiritual Care Providers are part of the M/D Health Team

What are Religious Needs? Most people are not Religious All people are Spiritual in some way

How are Religious Needs Responded To? Take account of/respect beliefs, rituals, practices, etc. appropriate Ensure NHS does not at any stage compromise or discriminate Where possible, ensure availability of Faith community reps. for religious care

Why Respond to Religious Needs? The Moral Case The Legal Case The Business Case, esp. Medical aspects

What is the Link Between Religion and Health? Just responsible members of a ‘caring club’……?

…or is it Psycho-Neuro-Immunology…..? The study of how psycho-social factors that affect our state of wellbeing can influence the body’s immune system through neuroendocrine pathways (nerve connections that regulate hormones)

How Stress Gets Under Your Skin; Psychobiological Studies of Social Status, Stress, and Health “Social networks, etc. that boost self-esteem are protective against the effects of stress.”

Stress is a Normal Physiological Response Chronic Stress is not!!

Of Molecules and Mind; Stress, the Individual and the Social Environment “Chronic stress can produce changes to cellular structure of brain; can be reversed by relieving the stress”

What is the Evidence Base for Responding to Religious Needs? Harold Koenig, 2001, 1200 studies, “Religion and Health,”

“There is Evidence that Something About Religion can Provide Health Benefits” Basak Coruh, 2005, “Does religious Activity Improve Clinical Outcomes? A Ciritcal Review of the Recent Literature”, The Journal of Science and Healing, Vol 1, 3,

“A Consensus is Emerging in the Literature that Evidence Exists to Support the Provision of Spiritual Care in the Healthcare Setting” Peter Speck, 2005, The Evidence Base for Spiritual Care, Nursing Management, Vol 12, 6, 28-31

“Spirituality Involves a Dimension of Human Experience that Psychiatrists are Increasingly Interested in Because of its Potential Benefits to Mental Health.” Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Special Interest Group, Spirituality and Mental Health, 1999

“Such Evidence as We Have is Strongly Suggestive of Positive Links Between Religion/Spirituality and Personal Wellbeing… Sandra Carlisle, 2006, University of Glasgow Centre for Population and Health

“… Spiritual Awareness is to be Encouraged Because of the Benefits it can Bring to the Human Experience, Including Disease in Our Society Today”

“Absence of Evidence Does not Necessarily Mean Evidence of Absence” Harriet Mowat, 2007, The Potential for the Efficacy of Healthcare Chaplaincy – Spiritual Care in UK: A Scoping Study

Summary of Findings There is a theoretical basis linking Religion/Spirituality and Health In practice, the link appears to be a positive one The R.C. Psychiatrists are supporting this link NICE including Spiritual Care in its Palliative Care guidelines Responding to Religious needs should support Spiritual needs…… ……which will provide true HOLISTIC care

13 Faith / Belief Focus Groups “From a religious/humanist point of view, what was important for you when admitted to hospital?”

What are the Challenges? Responding to religious needs as Generic Chaplaincy East European arrivals Narrow interpretation of Data Protection Act Increasing out-of-hours work

What are the Challenges? Increasing demands of Pastoral care for staff Ongoing lack of clarity about Religion/Spirituality Staff enthusiastic for training – how? Lack of consistent data collection

Conclusions You are a vital part of the M/D Healthcare Team….. ……and thus must become AHPs You have a large role in Pastoral care of the staff You need more practical research for your evidence base