A training programme for medical students in providing spiritual care to people with advanced diseases and their loved ones: A case study from the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland

Abstract

PurposeThis article presents the first programme on spiritual care particularly for people with advanced life-limiting illness including heart failure, lung disease or cancer for medical students in Poland implemented at the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.Methods and materialsSeveral steps were identified for the development of the first programme on spirituality for medical students at the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz including preliminary work on the content of the programme, agreement on key concepts, terms, and definitions; consultations with teachers and review of the literature.ResultsThe first Polish spiritual curriculum for medical students was implemented. The spirituality curriculum will potentially contribute to better care for the people with advanced illnesses such as heart failure, chronic lung disease or cancer and improve the quality of relationships between professionals and patients.ConclusionThe article presents the content of the program, the expected learning objectives and ascribed teaching methods, along with the preliminary evaluation made by students.

Spirituality in Polish nursing and chosen tools used for its measuring – subject matter presentation based on literature review

“…It is attributed to organisational aspects of care and staff 's discomfort related to a lack of competence in delivering such care as well as a lack of communication and cultural skills. On the other hand, Fopka-Kowalczyk M. et al [14] in paper on the creation of a program of classes in spiritual care for medical students indicates the importance of holism and spirituality in patient care. They point out that in addition to the strictly clinical aspect, the medical care and prognosis of the patient also depend on personal, emotional and spiritual aspects.…”

“…What is more, the authors of the above study indicate that the use of spiritual care in the therapeutic process has a positive effect on survival, coping with the disease, patient satisfaction with the care provided and the treatment process. In addition, it is related to the patient's subsequent compliance with medical recommendations and quality of life, reduces anxiety and the risk of depressive disorders [14].…”

“…Many authors from the fi eld of spiritual care point out signifi cant diff erences between these concepts. Th ey also claim that spirituality is universal, the same for all humans, regardless of their origin, culture or religion [4,5,14,22]. That is why spiritual care can be provided by believers and non-believers.…”

Exploring the readiness of hospice and oncology unit staff to offer spiritual support to patients: preliminary findings

“…Though educational interventions to include the subject of spirituality in medical education were successfully implemented in Anglo-Saxon countries, this has not been so in Poland. According to available information, the only spiritual care course with particular emphasis on incurable diseases for medical students in Poland began at Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in 2018 [17]. It continues to be taught as a mandatory subject to this day.…”