Beliefs and Practices Regarding Spirituality as a Healthcare Strategy
Open Access
- 1 January 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Scientific Research Publishing, Inc. in Open Journal of Preventive Medicine
- Vol. 12 (03), 59-72
- https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpm.2022.123004
Abstract
Objective: This study examined the perceptions and practices of medical personnel regarding the spirituality in the treatment management plan of their patients. Methods: A spirituality survey was administered to doctors and nurses, soliciting responses about their beliefs and willingness to include spirituality practices in treating patients within their facility. Respondents were asked to give their views on daily practices regarding the use of spirituality in patient care and patient response to treatment. Results: The doctors’ responses suggest that they believe that solutions to medical problems, patient recovery, and coping are related to mind and body stress issues that surgery and drugs may not necessarily cure. The emphasis on self-care for some of these medical problems can put the patient back in control and eliminate the use of excessive drugs in the treatment process. Chances for health and well being of patients are improved if good medical practices are combined with a strong mental and psychological disposition to provide a vital foundation for directly confronting diseases. Conclusion: Spiritual engagement helps to support a psychological outlook that is necessary for fighting diseases and coping adequately with life’s tragedies. This approach provides a well-balanced attack on disease and increases the patient’s chances of coping and surviving.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical ImplicationsISRN Psychiatry, 2012
- Religion and spirituality in medicine: research and educationJAMA, 1997
- Religious Aspects of Substance Abuse and RecoveryJournal of Social Issues, 1995
- Spirituality and Religiosity: Relative Relationships to Death AnxietyOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 1994
- Stress and the individual. Mechanisms leading to diseaseArchives of Internal Medicine, 1993
- Spirituality and well‐being in terminally ill hospitalized adultsResearch in Nursing & Health, 1987
- Spirituality, Medicine, and HealingSouthern Medical Journal, 1986
- Religion and healthSocial Science & Medicine. Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, 1980
- The Need for a New Medical Model: A Challenge for BiomedicineScience, 1977
- Church attendance and healthJournal of Chronic Diseases, 1972