| Titel: | Acontemplative care approach to training and supporting hospice volunteers: A prospective study of spiritual practice, well-being, and fear of death |
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| Autor: | Scherwitz, L Pullman, M McHenry, P Gao, B Ostaseski, F |
| Mediengruppe: | journal article |
| Herausgeber: | --- |
| Zeitschrift: | Explore-the Journal of Science and Healing |
| Jahr: | 2006 |
| Band: | 2 |
| Heft: | 4 |
| Seiten: | 304-313 |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Abstract: | Background: Inspired by a 2,500-year-old Buddhist tradition, the Zen Hospice Project (ZHP) provides residential hospice care, volunteer programs, and educational efforts that cultivate wisdom and compassion in service. Objective: The present study was designed to understand how being with dying hospice residents affects hospice volunteers well-being and the role of spiritual practice in ameliorating the fear of death. Design: A one-year longitudinal study of two volunteer cohorts (N = 2 4 and N = 22) with repeated measures of spiritual practice, well-being, and hospice performance during one-year service as volunteers. Setting: The Zen Hospice Guest House and Laguna Honda Residential Hospital of San Francisco, CA. Participants: All 46 individuals who became ZHP volunteers during two years. Interventions: A 40-hour training program for beginning hospice volunteers stressing compassion, equanimity, mindfulness, and practical bedside care; a one-year caregiver assignment five hours per week; and monthly group meeting. Main Outcome Measures: Self-report FACIT spiritual wellbeing, general well-being, self-transcendence scale, and a volunteer coordinator-rated ZHP performance scale. Results: The volunteers had a high level of self-care and wellbeing at baseline and maintained both throughout the year; they increased compassion and decreased fear of death. Those (n = 20) practicing yoga were found to have consistently lower fear of death than the group average (P =.04, P =.008, respectively). All rated the training and program highly, and 63% continued to volunteer after the first year's commitment. The results suggest that this approach to training and supporting hospice volunteers fosters emotional well-being and spiritual growth. |