Physician Religious Beliefs and the Physician-Patient Relationship

Religion and Health: Public Health Research and Practice

“…What specific roles should health professionals assume in these interactions? Some have suggested that prayer between clients and health professionals who share similar faith backgrounds would be appropriate (73,84,161) and is desired by some clients (146) and physicians (142). However, as we have seen, even people who ostensibly share an identical faith may have very different preferences for religious interventions and views about the functional aspects of religion (e.g.…”

Doctors discussing religion and spirituality: A systematic literature review

“…27,37,46,48,52,53,66,76 Results were mixed regarding impact of age, 38,41,53,54,70 years in medical practice 37-39, 41,43,48,54,57,62 and race. 39,48,66,72 African-American physicians reported that concordant race was a factor, reflecting concordant spirituality.…”

“…18,28,46,50,59,83 It is difficult to separate personal discomfort from lack of training and a number of other barriers cited: lack of a vocabulary to discuss spirituality, 50,51,59 belief that R/S enquiry may violate professional boundaries or that the doctor was not the best person to provide such care. 18,32,35,43,45,50,52,57,59,60,62,63,73,76 R/S discussions were avoided at times because of a difference in religious and/or cultural positions of the doctor and patient 50 or because the doctor was not religious. 32,33 Some doctors were concerned that discussion in the context of differing belief systems may distance the patient from the doctor.…”

Spirituality and job satisfaction among female Jewish Israeli hospital nurses

“…Komala and Ganesh (2007) claim that an individual’s personal spiritual values should have an effect on the manner in which that individual responds to work‐related events. Olive (1995) found that job satisfaction among physicians was related to their role in helping patients and facilitating their recovery. Fillion et al.…”