Journal of religion and health
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This paper summarizes an exploratory study undertaken to consider the work of Australian chaplaincy personnel ministering to people proceeding through emotionally challenging judicial court proceedings. This qualitative research (a first among Australian court chaplains) was not concerned with specific court procedures per se, but predominantly about the perspectives of chaplains concerning their professional contribution and issues they experienced while trying to assist people struggling with court processes. ⋯ Given various frustrations identified by chaplain participants, which either impeded or thwarted their professional role as chaplains, a number of improvements were subsequently identified in order to develop the efficiency and effectiveness of court chaplaincy and thus maximize the benefits of spiritual and pastoral care to people in court. Implications of this exploratory study relate not only to court chaplaincy but also to ecclesiastical organizations, governments and the need of support for further research to be conducted.
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Evidence suggests that religiousness is associated with more aggressive end-of-life (EOL) care among terminally ill patients. The effect of religion on care in more acutely life-threatening diseases is not well studied. This study examines the association of religious affiliation and request for chaplain visit with aggressive EOL care among critically injured trauma patients. ⋯ Controlling for social factors, severity of injury, and medical comorbidities, religious affiliation was associated with a 43 % increase in days until death. Controlling for these same variables, chaplain request was associated with a 24 % decrease in time until death. These results suggest that religious patients receive more aggressive, and ultimately futile, EOL care and that pastoral care may reduce the amount of futile care consumed.