Revisiting Spirituality in Physical Therapy Practice
Perceptions of US Practitioners
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20308330 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gale Lavinder (0000-0002-6823-7819, New York Medical College, corresponding author), Penny Liberatos (0000-0002-9335-0397, New York Medical College), Marc Campo (0000-0003-0478-4255, Mercy University), Erin Leegan (New York Medical College), Meghan Moritz (New York Medical College), Ryan Campo, Ryan Toribio A Campo (Binghamton University), Silvia Terziyski (New York Medical College) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 2672-2698 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Religion and Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-4197 • E-ISSN: 1573-6571 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10943-025-02502-4 |
| PMID | 41460478 |
| OpenAlex | W7117452081 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 77 |
Little discussion of including the spiritual domain in physical therapy (PT) education in the US has occurred despite support from PT practitioners and students. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of practicing physical therapists regarding the role that their own spirituality, prior professional education, and the usefulness of including spirituality in PT practice may play in several aspects of clinical practice. A random sample of 800 physical therapists working in acute/sub-acute rehabilitation settings selected from the APTA membership was surveyed. This cross sectional study achieved a response rate of 57.5% (n = 460). Outcomes consisted of 57 Likert-scale items focused on the role that spirituality might play in PT clinical practice. Internal consistency reliability of these items was excellent (α = .97). The importance of including spirituality in patient care (total score) was significantly related to respondents’ self-identified belief system (where religious/spiritual were more positive relative to atheist/agnostic/other) ( p p p = .237/d = −.154). Study results contribute to the existing literature supporting the importance of addressing spirituality in PT education. Educating physical therapists in this area would enhance the profession’s goal of providing holistic patient-centered care and improving cultural competence
Clinical Practice · Consistency (knowledge bases) · MEDLINE · Perception · Spirituality · Cultural Competency in Health Care · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Rehabilitation · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |