• Paige E Stevens, Caroline E Rassbach, FeiFei Qin, and Kevin W Kuo.
• Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA.
• Pediatr Crit Care Me. 2024 May 1; 25 (5): 396406396-406.

ObjectivesTo understand the perspectives of pediatric fellows training in critical care subspecialties about providing spiritual care.DesignCross-sectional survey of United States National Residency Matching Program pediatric fellows training in critical care specialties.SettingOnline survey open from April to May 2021.SubjectsA total of 720 fellows (165 cardiology, 259 critical care, and 296 neonatology) were contacted, with a response rate of 245 of 720 (34%).InterventionsNone.Measurements And Main ResultsWe assessed fellows' survey responses about spiritual care in neonatal and pediatric critical care units. Categorical data were compared using chi-square test or Fisher exact tests. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare the percentage correct on ten multiple-choice questions about world religions. Free-text responses were independently coded by two research investigators. A total of 203 of 245 (83%) responding fellows had never received training about spiritual care and 176 of 245 (72%) indicated that they would be likely to incorporate spiritual care into their practice if they received training. Prior training was associated with increased familiarity with a framework for taking a spiritual history ( p < 0.001) and increased knowledge of spiritual practices that could influence medical care ( p = 0.03). Prior training was also associated with increased self-reported frequency of taking a spiritual history ( p < 0.001) and comfort in referring families to spiritual care resources ( p = 0.02). Lack of time and training were the most reported barriers to providing spiritual care.ConclusionsProviding spiritual care for families is important in critical care settings. In 2020-2021, in the United States, 245 pediatric critical care fellows responded to a survey about spiritual care in their practice and reported that they lacked training in this subject. An opportunity exists to implement spiritual care curricula into pediatric fellowship training.Copyright © 2023 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies.

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