How EPICC network tools are informing spiritual care education globally: A scoping review

The EPICC Project (Enhancing Nurses’ and Midwives’ Competence in Providing Spiritual Care through Innovative Education and Compassionate Care) marks a significant step forward in spiritual care education. For emerging researchers, achieving clarity and consensus on these competencies is essential for both practice and research. Therefore, mapping the scientific evidence on this subject is of considerable importance. Adhering to the JBI’s scoping review protocol, this review employs a search strategy across CINAHL Complete, Medline Complete, PubMed, and Web of Science, focusing on publications from 2020 to 2026. Articles published in English are included alongside grey literature sources. Identification, selection, and extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers, with any discrepancies resolved through discussion. PRISMA-ScR guidelines structure the reporting process. Thirteen studies were included from an initial pool of 450. The findings were categorised into two groups: EPICC Standard (n = 6) and EPICC Self-Assessment Tool (n = 8), with one study addressing both outputs. The studies used quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs. They were conducted across diverse settings, including Australia, Turkey, Iran, and several European countries, and involved mainly nursing and midwifery students, as well as healthcare professionals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of EPICC's role in spiritual care education and training, thereby supporting the broader mission to integrate spiritual care competencies into healthcare education.