Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Keep the faith: Why the role of spiritual care in health care is critical 

Jung Kwak, PhD, MSW and Rev. Brian Hughes
Conditions
January 3, 2023
49 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

This time of year, advice abounds on how to develop New Year’s resolutions that last. Some assert the need for resolutions and goals that reflect the deep desire for meaning-making, living life to the fullest extent possible, and establishing healthier, fuller lives moving forward.

Spiritual care is an essential part of any health care resolution.

Some describe a recent Journal of the American Medical Association study as “the most rigorous and comprehensive systematic analysis of the modern-day literature regarding health and spirituality to date.”

This study concludes that addressing spirituality improves patient outcomes among the seriously ill and explicitly calls for more directly incorporating spiritual care into the medical care of patients with serious illnesses, and addressing spiritual care needs through specialty practitioners of spiritual care.

One of the lead authors of the JAMA article declares spiritual care is a human right.

Spirituality profoundly influences health and how people cope with serious illnesses of their own and their loved ones. Spirituality influences how individuals perceive and attribute meaning to illness, communicate needs, and seek and access care.

Research shows that the practice of spirituality and a sense of faith can reduce risks for serious health conditions such as cancer, heart failure, and even mortality.

In our recent systematic review of the connection between spirituality and health, we found that religiosity and spirituality positively impact cognitive and mental health and coping in persons with dementia.

For families of patients with serious illnesses, religious and spiritual beliefs are important sources of guidance for surrogate decision-making and help family caregivers cope with caregiving challenges and responsibilities, as in the case of dementia caregivers we studied.

In our study with over 580 health care chaplains who facilitated serious illness conversations with patients, patients’ concerns were often existential and spiritual, even without explicit, verbal expression or use of the words “spirituality” or “faith.”

Chaplains reported that the patients’ hopes and fears involved how to live fully in the present, how to live and die peacefully and avoid suffering as much as possible. Patients expressed they desired to be connected with their loved ones, to consider and seek the sacred and meaning-making, and to contemplate the great unknown.

Another study of 196 critical illness survivors with ICU visits found that over half of patients reported major serious concerns. Over one-third needed more support than their family or friends could provide. Yet, many clinicians reportedly shy away from broaching the subject of spirituality or religion because of a lack of familiarity and training, anticipating questions or concerns that they may not be comfortable addressing. They report they do not wish to open up Pandora’s Box and be left without knowing how to best respond.

One solution is for clinicians to consider themselves spiritual care generalists, giving themselves permission to ask how a patient’s or family’s deeply held values may impact their care plan. And then listen to the response.

If it gets complex, then call in the spiritual care specialist, often the board-certified chaplain. In the same way that a generalist medical provider inquires about many different symptoms and diseases, a spiritual care generalist can inquire about a patient’s or family’s values and beliefs, and seek to incorporate them into their care, and refer if and when the needs become beyond the scope of practice of the inquiring clinician.

When practitioners and leaders in health care place spiritual care in a place of resolute importance and priority, it infuses health care with humanity. The practice invites patients and families to bring deeply held values, beliefs, and worldviews into the collective field of vision in order to co-create better outcomes. It also becomes a more meaningful journey and facilitates connection and community.

Jung Kwak is a gerontologist. Brian Hughes is a chaplain.

Prev

Secrets from a physician-entrepreneur [PODCAST]

January 2, 2023 Kevin 0
…
Next

Tragedy strikes Monday Night Football as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffers cardiac arrest. Is commotio cordis to blame?

January 3, 2023 Kevin 3
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Secrets from a physician-entrepreneur [PODCAST]
Next Post >
Tragedy strikes Monday Night Football as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffers cardiac arrest. Is commotio cordis to blame?

Related Posts

  • How social media can help or hurt your health care career

    Health eCareers
  • Why health care replaced physician care

    Michael Weiss, MD
  • Health care is not a service commodity

    Peter Spence, MD, MBA
  • The role of medical education in perpetuating health care disparities

    Anonymous
  • Why the health care industry must prioritize health equity

    George T. Mathew, MD, MBA
  • Improve mental health by improving how we finance health care

    Steven Siegel, MD, PhD

More in Conditions

  • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

    Monika Roots, MD
  • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

    Cheryl Lazarus
  • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

    Lien Morcate
  • The surprising medical mystery of a “good” Hitler: How a rescued kitten revealed a rare movement disorder

    Teresella Gondolo, MD
  • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

    Kim Downey, PT
  • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

    Althea Halchuck, EJD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Healing trauma and reconnecting: Unmasking the impact of dissociation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

      Elizabeth Métraux | Policy
    • The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

      Robert Pearl, MD | Policy
    • The escalating violence in health care workplaces: a critical problem facing the nation’s health care system

      Harry Severance, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • A pediatrician’s journey into integrative medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Could Semaglutide Help Curb Addictive Behaviors?
  • 'If the Narcan Isn't Working, Give More' and Other Myths About Naloxone Use
  • CDC: Children's Brain Infections Rose Last Winter, But Remained Rare
  • Inside the Fight Against Burnout Amid the Chaos of War in Ukraine
  • Cardiovascular Risk Models Still Fall Short for Arthritis Patients

Meeting Coverage

  • Cardiovascular Risk Models Still Fall Short for Arthritis Patients
  • De-Escalated Surgery Suffices for Low-Risk Cervical Cancer
  • More Evidence Backs Gout Benefit for Gliflozin Agents
  • Reaction to FDA's Approval of Upadacitinib for Crohn's Disease
  • CDK4/6 Extends Reach Into Early-Stage Breast Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Healing trauma and reconnecting: Unmasking the impact of dissociation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

      Elizabeth Métraux | Policy
    • The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

      Robert Pearl, MD | Policy
    • The escalating violence in health care workplaces: a critical problem facing the nation’s health care system

      Harry Severance, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • A pediatrician’s journey into integrative medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...