Expanding the Scope of Spiritual Care Research and Training in South African Healthcare

Spirituality significantly contributes to the health and wellbeing of patients in healthcare, playing a vital role in alleviating suffering. However, without proper research to support this statement, it remains a belief held by a select few. In South Africa, limited research has been done in the field of religion/spirituality and health in addition to not having chaplaincy services in hospitals. The lack of collaboration across disciplines further widens the gap between religion/spirituality and health sciences, impeding the generation of new and innovative ideas that are crucial for addressing challenges and stimulating growth in this area. In partnership with the South African Department of Health, HospiVision has already started to influence healthcare policies and transform practices. However, it became evident that training is also a crucial component for growth in this area. HospiVision will therefore promote scholarly research to bridge the gaps in the emerging field of spirituality and health as well as focus on building capacity through training to equip spiritual caregivers and healthcare professionals with the skills needed to offer holistic, spiritually integrated care that will transform healthcare practices in South Africa. To achieve these goals, HospiVision intends to fund research studies; organize conferences where scholars can collaborate and present their research; conduct research workshops; develop a qualification program for hospital chaplains; facilitate workshops to explore how research findings can be translated into practical application; equip healthcare workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to address the spiritual care needs of their patients; focus on sustaining the impact and growth of the scholarly field of spirituality and health and provide access to the necessary resources to grow and develop this field.