Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39449119›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2024

Learning how to explore spiritual aspects in encounters with patients with chronic pain: a pre-test post-test trial on the effectiveness of a web-based learning intervention.

Felix Michael Schmitz, Ann-Lea Buzzi, Beate Gabriele Brem, Kai Philipp Schnabel, Joana Berger-Estilita, Fredy-Michel Roten, Simon Peng-Keller, Sissel Guttormsen

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Felix Michael SchmitzInstitute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, Bern, 3012, Switzerland. felix.schmitz@unibe.ch.
Ann-Lea BuzziInstitute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
Beate Gabriele BremInstitute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
Kai Philipp SchnabelInstitute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
Joana Berger-EstilitaInstitute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
Fredy-Michel RotenDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Simon Peng-KellerSpiritual Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sissel GuttormsenInstitute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.

Funding

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung 407440_167507
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntegrating spiritual aspects into treatment plans can release essential resources for coping with chronic pain. However, some spiritual aspects may also induce distress and hinder the coping process. There is a lack of evidence regarding how to perform the clinical tasks of exploring spiritual aspects and of instruments assessing related competencies. Therefore, we developed a web-based learning module to provide education on the subject alongside corresponding assessment instruments. The module presents the InSpiRe (Integration of Spirituality and/or Religion in patient encounters) protocol. The instruments encompass cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions.

methodsThis paper aims to determine (i) the learning effects associated with completing the web-based spiritual-care learning module and (ii) the reliability and validity of the instruments employed. To address these aims, we conducted a pre-test/post-test trial with N = 32 randomly selected fourth-year medical students. During the pre-test, we assessed the students' knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding exploring spiritual aspects. For this purpose, we developed a short-answer knowledge test, an attitude questionnaire, and a self-efficacy scale. Additionally, the students explored spiritual aspects with a simulated patient portraying a person with chronic pain. Three trained raters evaluated the students' performances using a self-developed scale. In the intervention phase, the students completed the 45-minute learning module on a personal computer. The module presented InSpiRe-related content as text and step-by-step video demonstrations, including hints that denote critical actions. The subsequent post-test was identical to the pre-test.

resultsThe internal consistency was suitable for all respective instruments, and there was an indication of solid validity of the performance test. After completing the spiritual care learning module, the students showed statistically significant increases in knowledge scores and significant positive shifts in their attitudes and levels of self-efficacy regarding exploring spiritual aspects. They also attained significantly higher performance scores in the same regard.

conclusionsCompleting the spiritual-care module is associated with meaningful learning effects on cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions related to exploring spiritual aspects, as demonstrated in the post-test conducted shortly after the intervention. Due to good reliability and validity scores, the self-developed instruments can be applied appropriately.

Indexed as

Chronic PainSpiritualityAdultEducational MeasurementEducation, Medical, UndergraduateFemaleHumansInternetInternet-Based InterventionMaleReproducibility of ResultsStudents, MedicalSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultChronic painCommunication skillsEducationPatient simulationPre-test post-test trialSpiritual assessmentSpiritual distressSpiritual resourcesTraining

Identifiers

PMID39449119
PMCPMC11515423

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.