Do Patients Want Physicians to Inquire About Their Spiritual or Religious Beliefs If They Become Gravely Ill?

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23327637
AutoresJohn W Ehman (0000-0003-0762-9234, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania), Barbara B Ott, Barbara Ott, Thomas H Short, Ralph C Ciampa, John Hansen-Flaschen, John Hansen‐Flaschen (0000-0003-1989-7244)
Ano1999
Volume159
Fascículo15
Páginas1803
Data de publicação1999-08-09
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoA.M.A. Archives of Internal Medicine (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0888-2479 • E-ISSN: 0730-188X
EditoraAmerican Medical Association (AMA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1001/archinte.159.15.1803
PMID10448785
OpenAlexW2008886936
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas89
Referências citadas3

BACKGROUND: Recognizing that many Americans draw on religious or spiritual beliefs when confronted by serious illness, some medical educators have recommended that physicians routinely ask about spirituality or religion when conducting a medical history. The most appropriate wording for such an inquiry remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine patient acceptance of including the following question in the medical history of ambulatory outpatients: "Do you have spiritual or religious beliefs that would influence your medical decisions if you become gravely ill?" METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 177 ambulatory adult patients visiting a pulmonary faculty office practice at a university teaching hospital in 1997 (83% response rate). RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of the study patients described themselves as religious and 90% believe that prayer may sometimes influence recovery from an illness. Forty-five percent reported that religious beliefs would influence their medical decisions if they become gravely ill. Ninety-four percent of individuals with such beliefs agreed or strongly agreed that physicians should ask them whether they have such beliefs if they become gravely ill. Forty-five percent of the respondents who denied having such beliefs also agreed that physicians should ask about them. Altogether, two thirds of the respondents indicated that they would welcome the study question in a medical history, whereas 16% reported that they would not. Only 15% of the study group recalled having been asked whether spiritual or religious beliefs would influence their medical decisions. CONCLUSION: Many but not all patients surveyed in a pulmonary outpatient practice welcome a carefully worded inquiry about their spiritual or religious beliefs in the event that they become gravely ill.

Alternative medicine · Family medicine · Prayer · Spirituality · Medicine · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Religious studies