Mwijukye, Baingana Moses2026-06-102026-06-102026-06https://irepository.aua.ac.ke/handle/123456789/940Full text thesisSpiritual care is a key component of holistic health, especially in hospital environments where patients face physical, emotional, and psychological pain. In Uganda, chaplaincy is still growing within the medical field and often misunderstood or underutilized. This study was conducted to understand how medical personnel perceive the function and impact of chaplaincy work in healthcare delivery across selected hospitals in Western Uganda. It sought to answer: How do medical professionals view chaplains? Do they recognize the value chaplains add to patient care? What is their general attitude toward spiritual support in medical settings? Study Intention: The intention of this research was to analyze the attitudes and opinions of medical personnel, doctors, nurses, dentists, Orthopedists, and radiologists, toward chaplaincy services in five selected hospitals: Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Comboni Catholic Hospital, Mishanga Catholic Hospital, Divine Mercy Hospital, and Ishaka Adventist Hospital. It aimed to establish the level of partnership between healthcare professionals and chaplaincy personnel and to explore whether chaplaincy is recognized as an essential part of healthcare Team. Methodology: A quantitative research design was used for this study. The total study population consisted of 320 medical personnel from the five hospitals mentioned above. Using a combination of stratified random sampling (to ensure fair representation of departments) and purposive sampling (targeting those with relevant experience), participants were selected. A structured questionnaire based on the Likert scale was distributed to gather data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 30, applying both descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and inferential statistics (correlation analysis). Key Findings: Results showed a strong positive correlation between the presence of chaplaincy services and the positive perceptions of medical staff. As chaplains increased their spiritual and emotional care efforts, the opinions of medical personnel improved significantly. The calculated Pearson correlation coefficient was r = 0.943, and r² = 0.889, which means approximately 88.9% of the variation in medical personnel's opinions can be explained by the quality and presence of chaplaincy services. Many respondents acknowledged that chaplains contributed to emotional peace, spiritual guidance, and patient recovery. Medical personnel also admitted that patients often show signs of spiritual distress, especially when facing Terminal illness or major surgeries. In such situations, chaplains offered comfort through prayer, listening, and compassionate presence. Conclusion: The study concluded that chaplaincy services are essential in providing emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and even staff. Chaplains play a sacred and therapeutic role, helping patients find meaning in suffering, regain hope, and experience peace in challenging moments. Medical professionals showed a growing appreciation for chaplaincy, particularly in faith-based hospitals, though gaps in full integration still exist. Recommendations: • Hospital administrators should incorporate chaplains more fully into patient care teams. • Chaplains should seek continuous professional development in both chaplaincy and basic health knowledge to work closely with doctors and nurses. • Physicians are encouraged to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and recognize the chaplain as a fellow care provider, not just a religious leader. • Uganda’s Ministry of Health and religious bodies should develop policies that allow for the formal training, certification, and employment of hospital chaplains in both public and private healthcare settingsenChaplaincy ServicesMedical PersonnelHospital MinistryHealthcare Spiritual CareWestern UgandaThesis