Religion, spirituality and health: how should Australia's medical professionals respond?

Abstract

Greater participation in religious activities is associated with better health outcomes. In the US, most inpatients have religious needs, but physicians address them only occasionally and infrequently refer patients to clergy. US medical students are learning to do spiritual assessments and integrate the findings into patient management, which may reverse this. Religion does not play a central role in the lives of Australians as it does for US citizens. Research is required to better understand the spirituality of Australians, its relationship to health and the benefit, cost and acceptability of doctors enquiring into spirituality compared with spiritual advisers and counsellors.

Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil

“…Another example of the challenges faced in addressing S/H in medical education were raised in an article by Peach [14] in the Medical Journal of Australia. According to the author, "religion does not play the same role in the lives of Australians as it does for US citizens (…) Spirituality has a place in Australia's medical courses, but perhaps not in practice until more data are available”.…”

Reasons Why High Religiosity Can Co-exist with and Precipitate Discontinuation of Anti-retroviral Therapy among Different HIV Clients in Uganda: An Exploratory Study

“…Although religion is an important aspect in the lives of most people living with HIV (PHAs) and increases among most PHAs after being diagnosed HIV positive [1,2], many care providers (including HIV care providers) get interested in the religiosity of their clients only when it obstructs conventional treatment [3,4]. Despite this, previous research has shown that high religiosity among some PHAs can co-exist with high levels of adherence to conventional HIV treatment while among others can precipitate discontinuation of this treatment to rely only on God for healing [1].…”

The relational model of spiritual engagement depicted by palliative care clients and caregivers

“…6 In Western societies, religious denominations define spirituality in relationship with God and usually from a Christian perspective. Religion is embedded in a faith tradition, involving adherence to shared beliefs and practices and organized movements.…”

“…Religion is embedded in a faith tradition, involving adherence to shared beliefs and practices and organized movements. 6,8 This shift in understanding means that although spirituality is related to personal discovery and self-reflection, it also encompasses the ability to see beyond the self, and consider transcendence. 7 However, it is acknowledged that there are nontheistic beliefs that imply Godless worship, such as Buddhism, Taoism and New Age spirituality.…”