People Want Spiritual Support in Hospitals

The study shows that many Swiss residents see value in having spiritual help when they are ill. In a survey of 1, 011 people from Zurich, almost half – about 49 percent – said they would like spiritual or religious aspects to be part of their hospital care. They believe it can make the whole healing process better. Most respondents, 52 percent, want chaplains to be a regular part of health services. They feel the support should not depend on a person’s religion or personal beliefs. Instead, it should be available to everyone who needs it.The research also looked at how people feel about different ways chaplains could work. It used a made‑up situation to ask whether they would want help from a spiritual advisor while in the hospital. The answers suggest that patients see chaplaincy as an extension of overall well‑being, not just a separate religious activity. This focus on patient wishes is important for doctors and hospital managers. If hospitals want to give the best care, they must match their services to what patients actually need. That means looking at how chaplains are organized, how they fit into the hospital’s rules, and even how public health policies can support them. Overall, the findings point to a clear trend: patients want chaplains as part of their routine care. Hospitals that listen to this demand can improve patient comfort and maybe even help them recover faster.