Religion, Spirituality, or Existentiality in Bad News Interactions: The Perspectives and Practices of Physicians in India

Abstract

A qualitative study was conducted to identify the role of religion, spirituality, or existentiality in clinical interactions. Grounded theory design was used to generate narrative data from 27 physicians working in four teaching hospitals in Karnataka, India, using a semi-structured interview schedule. Physicians reported that they explored religious, spiritual, and existential beliefs and practices of patients, along with other psychosocial and disease aspects, to assess their tolerance to bad news, to make decisions about delivering it, and to address the distress that might emerge from receiving bad news. They also reported taking recourse to religious or spiritual practices to cope with their own stress and feelings of failure.

Religious identity in the workplace: A systematic review, research agenda, and practical implications

“…It also influences how physicians communicate with the parents of dying children (Bateman & Clair, 2015). Likewise, religious physicians are more likely to support the hopes of their patients, and are better able to deal with the grief associated with caring for dying children and their families compared to nonreligious physicians (Martis & Westhues, 2015). Degree of congruence in religious identity expression also has organizational consequences.…”

Communication at the end-of-life among advanced cancer patients in Ghana: what patients have to say

“…One contextual item that may influence of EOL discussions are patient's religion/ spiritual beliefs. The impact of religion, spiritual/existential beliefs on healthcare delivery has risen in importance as patients and family increasingly expect holistic, comprehensive, or total care from healthcare providers (Martis & Westhues, 2015). The terms religion, spirituality, or existentiality are often used interchangeably in research and are not seen as different concepts (Speck, 2005).…”

“…The terms religion, spirituality, or existentiality are often used interchangeably in research and are not seen as different concepts (Speck, 2005). According to Martis and Westhues (2015), religion is a social establishment that hold people together around a set of beliefs and rituals, while spirituality signifies a person's pursuit to connect with a supernatural being which transcends any specific system of beliefs and practices. Existentiality on the other hand mostly refers to a person's attitudes on life, death, freedom, and other concerns that are key to human existence (p. 1388).…”

“…It affects the way the patients and HCP make sense of illness, suffering, death, and their opinions on how to receive and deliver bad news (O'Kelly et al, 2011). A person's beliefs and attitudes concerning end-of-life care and communicating poor prognosis depends on religious and cultural beliefs and differs between countries and ethnic groups within a country Martis & Westhues, 2015).…”

“…Spiritual concerns often surface when individuals are faced with a life-limiting illness and are part of the context of EOL discussions. Health care professionals have variable capacity to break bad news effectively; much of the research on breaking bad news has emphasized the need for cultural competence or sensitivity to cultural values Martis & Westhues, 2015). As indicated earlier, culture influences the beliefs, values, and practices of both patients and healthcare providers (HCPs).…”