10.6084/m9.figshare.5139448.v1 Igraíne Helena Scholz Osório Igraíne Helena Scholz Osório Lídia Maria Gonçalves Lídia Maria Gonçalves Pedro Machry Pozzobon Pedro Machry Pozzobon Jair José Gaspar Júnior Jair José Gaspar Júnior Filippe Martins Miranda Filippe Martins Miranda Alessandra L. G. Lucchetti Alessandra L. G. Lucchetti Giancarlo Lucchetti Giancarlo Lucchetti Effect of an educational intervention in “spirituality and health” on knowledge, attitudes, and skills of students in health-related areas: A controlled randomized trial Taylor & Francis Group 2017 student attitude strategy spirituality intervention Student randomized trial Background control group 2017-06-22 21:29:20 Journal contribution https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Effect_of_an_educational_intervention_in_spirituality_and_health_on_knowledge_attitudes_and_skills_of_students_in_health-related_areas_A_controlled_randomized_trial/5139448 <p><b>Background:</b> To date there have been no randomized studies that assess whether “Spirituality and Health” (S/H) programs are, indeed, effective, or not. We sought to evaluate if an intervention in teaching S/H fosters competence changes in healthcare students.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> A randomized controlled trial was carried out. Students were randomized into two groups: an Intervention Group (a theoretical-practical course in S/H) and a control group (waiting list). Students’ S/H knowledge, attitudes, and skills (through a simulated patient) were assessed.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> A total of 49 students were evaluated. Students in the intervention group received higher scores on knowledge tests, felt more comfortable and prepared to talk about religious/spiritual beliefs with patients, more readily recognized importance of hospital chaplains, and more frequently held the opinion that addressing spirituality is important. Furthermore, a breaking down of S/H barriers was identified. Students also demonstrated more ability in obtaining a patient’s spiritual history when compared to the control group.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> There were some differences on knowledge, attitudes, and spiritual history skills between students who participated in the S/H teaching strategy and students who have not been exposed to the theme. These results might foster discussion for the development of new educational strategies about the subject.</p>