Lesson video

Hello there.

My name is Mr. Robertson.

Thank you so much for joining me for this RE lesson.

Today's lesson is the first in our unit called "Religion and belief in the workplace: how do we work together?

" And this unit is all about how we might use religion and belief to understand work, careers, and our environment.

This lesson is called "Religion and Worldviews in Healthcare.

" By the end of this lesson, you will be able to explain how and why religious literacy is important for people working in healthcare.

We have some key words today.

Our key words are these.

A chaplain is a specialist professional who provides emotional, spiritual, and religious care.

Empathy is the ability to have understanding and awareness of the experiences and feelings of others.

Healthcare is the organized services of medical care.

Holistic is the treatment of the whole person.

And religious literacy is knowledge of how religions, worldviews, and beliefs shape lives.

You'll see these words as they come up, and I think you'll really understand them by the end of it.

So, in this lesson, we have two parts.

And in the first part of the lesson, we're going to be thinking about religious literacy in healthcare.

So what do we mean by this term, "religious literacy," which we're going to be using in this lesson and all the lessons in this unit.

Well, having religious literacy means being able to understand and engage thoughtfully with religion and belief as it is lived and expressed in society.

Religious literacy includes understanding of different religions and beliefs, that they're diverse and that they change over time, so they're not necessarily fixed.

That religions and beliefs are part an identity people may have in their jobs and in their social lives.

So, Lucas and Laura are having a discussion about their future college subject choices.

Lucas says, "Laura, do you know what you'll study when you go to college?

I really value learning about religion and worldviews this year, so I'm going to choose it as one of my option subjects.

" Laura says, "Why would you want to study religion and worldviews?

You need to be thinking of the big picture and considering your career choices for when you leave college or after university.

Religion and worldviews has no relevance to the world of work.

" I wonder what you think about Laura's comment.

Is she right?

Does religion and worldviews have any relevance in the world of work?

Let's find out, shall we?

Lucas wants to find out if studying religion and worldviews is valuable.

He talks to Ms. Ash, the school's career advisor.

He says, "Ms. Ash, do you think that studying religion and worldviews at college will help with my career choices?

I'd like to work in the healthcare sector, maybe as a GP.

Would it be relevant?

" She says, "Religion and worldviews is definitely relevant.

You'll work with patients from many diverse backgrounds.

You'll develop important skills such as critical thinking, which will help you in decision making and with the skill of empathy.

" Lucas says, "What do you mean by empathy and why is that an important skill for working in the healthcare sector?

" As Ash says, "Empathy is the ability to understand, be aware, and be sensitive to the experiences and feelings of others.

Empathy is important because it helps you understand how others feel, treat 'em with kindness and respect, and build trust.

This is especially important in the healthcare sector when people might be feeling scared, upset, or in need of help.

" Which of these key words means to understand and be aware of the experiences and feelings of others?

A, empathy.

B, apathy.

C, sympathy.

Excellent, it's A, empathy.

Brilliant if you got that right.

So Lucas wants to explore the importance of religious literacy in the healthcare sector.

To do this, he interviews two healthcare workers.

Amber is a doctor who is also a practicing Muslim.

Reverend Luke is an Anglican Christian hospital chaplain.

Lucas says to Amber, "Why is it important to study religion and worldviews if I want to work in healthcare as a doctor?

" Amber says, "At the heart of healthcare is the patient.

We provide person-centered care.

Therefore, to be a doctor, you need to study science, but having religious literacy is crucial.

Your study will involve medical ethics; considering debates such as 'when does life begin?

' and 'when does life?

.

' These are all important issues within my work.

" So you could see that Amber's saying working in healthcare sector involves some really big questions, and at the heart of healthcare is the patient themselves.

Amber is Muslim and she explains how her Muslim beliefs connect to being a doctor.

She says, "I believe life is sacred.

I show honor to Allah through 'niyyah' or intention to respect and save human life.

Even saving just one life could feel like saving all of mankind.

It's important that I have good religious literacy, so I can provide my patients with person-centered holistic care.

Holistic care means treating the whole person, body, mind, and spirit, not just treating specific symptoms or diseases.

" So what does Amber say here about her beliefs and how that affects her being a doctor?

So Amber talks about, doesn't it, that as a Muslim, she shows honor through believing she has a responsibility to respect and save human life.

But she also says that, to be a good doctor, she provides holistic care, treating the whole person rather than just the specific symptom or disease that they present with.

Let's just check for understanding.

"Holistic care means treating specific symptoms or diseases.

" Is that true or false?

Think about what Amber just told us.

Excellent.

It's false, isn't it?

Because holistic care means treating the whole person, body, mind, and spirit, and not just individual symptoms or diseases.

Amber explains why having good religious literacy is important for healthcare workers.

She says, "Working in a Birmingham hospital, I treat many people from diverse backgrounds.

It's important that I build trust with my patients.

If a patient feels distrust towards me, I might cause unintentional emotional distress and their treatment plan may be less effective.

This can happen if a patient distrusts the healthcare professional and ignores their advice.

" So just thinking about what Amber said there, why?

What word would you pick out as being really central in terms of Amber as a doctor and why she thinks it's important to have good religious literacy?

I thought the word trust here was really important.

She talks about, as a doctor, building trust with patients and why that trust is important.

Because if the patient doesn't trust the doctor or healthcare worker, they may ignore the advice and not follow the treatment plan.

And people are more likely to trust someone if they think they understand them and know what makes them think and understands their beliefs.

"Select two possible consequences to patients if healthcare workers do not have good religious literacy.

" A, unintentional emotional distress.

B, more effective treatment plan.

C, less effective treatment plan.

Pause the video and have a think.

Excellent.

It's A and C, isn't it?

A patient may get unintentional emotional distress, and that might mean a less effective treatment plan.

Brilliant if you got that right.

Lucas now interviews the Reverend Luke, who's an Anglican Christian hospital chaplain to find out about his role in the healthcare sector.

Lucas says, "What is a hospital chaplain, Reverend Luke, and how do you work on your own, or as part of a team?

" Luke says, "Hospital chaplains are accredited leaders from a particular religious or worldview community.

I'm an ordained honorary chaplain.

I work at a hospital one day a week and am part from multi-faith team of chaplains.

Our work is very patient-centered, but we also support families and doctors and nurses.

" So, actually, from that, we can see that chaplains are people who work in a hospital, but they can also come from different faiths and beliefs.

Lucas asks, "Do you need to have a good religious literacy in your role?

" Luke says, "Yes.

Although I'm an Anglican Christian, I will provide holistic care to any patient in the hospital that requests it.

My work is not restricted to Anglican Christians.

At the heart of my work is the love and holistic wellbeing of the patient.

As a chaplain team, we work within the Equality Act and are open to supporting everyone, whatever their personal worldview.

" So, again, you might want to pause the video here and think who does Reverend Luke work with?

You may have noticed here that he says he will work with everyone, whatever their personal worldview.

He explains a bit more about his work in the hospital.

He says, "Typically, I'm at the hospital between 9:00 and 5:00.

The team of chaplains meet together first and head onto the wards based on the referrals that have been made.

My visits can vary and are based on the needs of the patient.

If requested and appropriate, I can pray with a patient and read scripture.

Otherwise, I could be someone to talk to confidentially and listen, who isn't part of their medical team or a family member.

" So I wonder why might people to talk or have a referral to a hospital chaplain, thinking about what Luke was just saying.

So some patients might want someone to pray with them or read scripture.

Otherwise, it might just be someone who wants someone to talk to confidentially.

So the role can have many different parts to it.

Let's just check our understanding so far.

I've got a true or false question for you here.

"A Christian hospital chaplain will only support Christian patients.

" Is that true or false?

Think about what Luke was telling us.

Excellent, it's false, isn't it?

Because a Christian hospital chaplain will meet with and support patients from any religion or worldview.

Okay, let's think about our learning so far.

I've got an activity for you here.

I'd like you to work in pairs for this.

You're going to number yourselves either one or two and decide who's going to speak first.

When you do this, I'd like you to be an active listener, so try not to interrupt the other person who's talking.

And when that person has finished, the person who is listening must feedback five things they've learned or heard, and you can take turns to do this.

So the first person who's going to answer this question, "What does it mean to have religious literacy?

" Next, I want you to think of three reasons why religious literacy is important when working in healthcare.

Think about what Amber said when she worked as a doctor or what Reverend Luke was saying as a chaplain.

And can you think of one consequence of not having religious literacy?

What might be a problem or consequence of that?

Okay, I'd like you pairs to work together and help each other.

And I really look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Well, I hope you enjoyed your conversations.

So you might have said that having religious literacy means having knowledge of religions, worldviews and beliefs.

Some reasons why religious literacy is important.

We might talk about it developing empathy, which helps you understand how other people feel.

We talked about building trust between patients and professionals.

We talked about the fact that healthcare professionals provide patient-centered holistic care.

And thirdly, that healthcare professionals work with a diverse range of people from different religions and worldviews.

And a possible consequence of not having religious literacy is that you might cause distress to a patient or that there may be a breakdown of trust and they may not follow a treatment plan.

Brilliant work if you come up with some of those reasons.

So for the second part of this lesson, we're gonna be thinking about applying religious literacy in healthcare.

Lucas is gonna talk to Amber again to find out how she applies religious literacy as a doctor.

She says, "I apply it by understanding and respecting people's beliefs about modesty, diet or prayer.

I understand the importance of daily prayers and fasting during the month of Ramadan.

If a Muslim patient wants to fast but it's pregnant or not well enough, I could suggest safe alternatives to them, which helps build trust.

" So, as a Muslim herself and understanding Islam, Amber can offer advice to her patients.

I've treated Muslim patients who have wanted to fast during Ramadan.

If the patient is not well enough to fast, then I've suggested alternatives.

In Islam, if you can't fast and you can afford to donate to charity, you can offer to pay for 30 days of meals.

For example, donate three pounds for 30 days.

Or if they can, the patient can fast later in the year.

If they can't fast for the rest of their lives, they can pay Fidya.

" So, can you think from reading this of some practical advice that Amber can offer a patient?

So you might have talked about fasting in Ramadan and offer an alternative, such as fasting later in the year or paying for meals.

Amber gives another example of applying religious literacy.

She says, "I've spoken with Muslim patients who have been unsure of having a vaccination because it contained pork, which is haram or forbidden in Islam.

" I was able to offer guidance on alternative halal/permitted vaccines, but also to remind them that Islam is spiritual guidance.

If the health benefits outweigh religious injunctions, then it is permissible.

" So, again, what can Amber offer here by understanding religious literacy?

We can see how that helps her work with patients who might be worried about vaccinations and offer alternatives, or explain to patients that health benefits are really important and so something can be permissible in a health situation.

Lucas asks Amber about her experience of working as a Muslim doctor in the NHS.

She says, "I'm very fortunate that the hospital I work in has prayer and facilities.

This means I can pray during my breaks.

During Ramadan, I often request to work night shifts, which means I can rest during the day.

There is halal food in the staff canteen.

Having my beliefs and practices respected is really important.

" So religious literacy for amber isn't just about the way she can help her patients.

It's the way that enables her to live out her beliefs as a doctor in the NHS.

"Select two ways a doctor could support a Muslim patient.

" A, demonstrate apathy.

B, advise on safe fasting alternatives.

C, give guidance on vaccinations.

Excellent, it's B and C, isn't it?

Advice on fasting and guidance on vaccinations.

Lucas now speaks to the Reverend Luke to find out how he applies religious literacy as a hospital chaplain.

Reverend Luke says, "If the patient is an Anglican Christian and wants to participate in the Eucharist, then I will administer that sacrament for them.

I will pray with the patient if I have their permission.

I also visit the children's ward in the hospital.

I offer pastoral and holistic support to patients and families with different worldviews.

" So can you think of three different things that the Reverend Luke says he might do as part of his work?

He talks about administrating the sacrament of the Eucharist.

He talks about praying with patients if they want to.

And he also talks about visiting the children's hospital as well.

Diane is a humanist and she explains how chaplain Reverend Luke supported her child and family.

She says, "When my daughter was ill in the hospital, Reverend Luke was a great support.

He would regularly visit the children's ward where my daughter was.

He would join in and play games with us or read her stories.

My daughter would look forward to his visits.

Reverend Luke is a great listener.

Even though we are not Christian, having him there to talk to really helped us during a difficult time.

" So what does Diane help us understand a bit about the role of a chaplain in the NHS?

So, Diane talks about the fact that the Reverend Luke would come and help play games and listen to her.

And it wasn't about him passing on his religious beliefs, but just being there as someone different who could help her and give her support, even though she herself was not religious.

Visits by hospital chaplains are patient led.

A patient may want to receive a sacrament such as the Eucharist, spend time talking to the chaplain, or play a game instead.

But the important thing here is, this always comes from the patient.

It's up to them to request to see the chaplain.

A chaplain would not try and force themselves to talk to someone who didn't want to be spoken to.

Let's just check our understanding.

"Select one thing a hospital chaplain would not do.

" A, listen to the patient.

B, play games.

C, give medical advice.

D, administer sacraments.

Excellent, it's C, isn't it?

A chaplain is there to listen, but not to give medical advice.

Okay, I'd like to look at our final task.

Lucas and Laura having a discussion about their future college subject choices.

Lucas says, "Laura, do you know what you'll study when you go to college?

I really value learning about religion and worldviews this year, so I'm going to choose it as one of my option subjects.

And Laura says, as we've heard, "Why would you want to study religion and worldviews?

You need to be thinking of the big picture and considering your career choices when you leave college or after university.

Religion and worldviews has no relevance in the world of work.

" So that was the conversation, if you remember, they had at the beginning of the lesson, Lucas and Laura bumped into each other At lunchtime.

I'd like you to write a conversational script between Lucas and Laura.

Lucas, as you know, has been finding out about religious literacy in healthcare, and I wonder what he would say to Lauren now about what he's learned about how having a religious literacy may be relevant.

You can create the script how you like, and you might want to act it out with somebody.

I really look forward to seeing your presentation and what you've come up with.

So here's my attempt at a script.

I'm sure yours will be much more interesting than this.

Laura says, "Hi, Lucas, how are you?

Have you made your decision on which subjects you want to study yet?

" Lucas said, "Yeah, I recently met with a doctor and hospital captain.

Alongside biology and chemistry, I'll study religion and worldviews.

It's important to have religious literacy when working in healthcare.

It'll help me develop empathy skills, give me confidence to support and advise my patients.

I'll have increased knowledge on dietary requirements, fasting, and be able to give holistic care to each patient and their family.

" And Laura says, "It sounds like you've done some good research.

Religion and worldview is relevant to your career choice in the healthcare industry after all.

I hope you've enjoyed that task and I wonder what you thought about their conversation as well.

Let's summarize what we've learned today.

So we've learned that having religious literacy means having knowledge of religions, worldviews, and how beliefs shape lives.

We've learned that empathy can be an important skill in healthcare 'cause it helps someone understand how others feel and builds trust.

We've learned that religious literacy can provide patients with person-centered and holistic care.

We've learned that holistic care is important for treating the whole person, not just specific symptoms or diseases.

We've learned that having religious literacy is important when offering support to patients on diet, fasting, prayer, and sacraments.

And healthcare institutions require religious literacy to support the needs of employees.

I really hope enjoyed learning this lesson about healthcare, and I look forward to seeing you in another lesson soon.

Thank you.