Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia

In recent years there has been growing awareness regarding the role of religion and spirituality (R/S) in the practice of clinical medicine. Despite hundreds of articles in professional journals on the subject, little is known about physician beliefs regarding the influence of religion on health. We...

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Main Authors: Rathor, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Rani, Mohammed Fauzi, Akter, Seikh Farid Uddin, SMS, Azarisman, Omar, Ahmad Marzuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ibrahim Medical College 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/10579/1/%2823%29_Ibrahim_Med_Coll_J_2010_4%281%29_4_8_Religion_Spirituality.pdf
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author Rathor, Mohammad Yousuf
Abdul Rani, Mohammed Fauzi
Akter, Seikh Farid Uddin
SMS, Azarisman
Omar, Ahmad Marzuki
author_facet Rathor, Mohammad Yousuf
Abdul Rani, Mohammed Fauzi
Akter, Seikh Farid Uddin
SMS, Azarisman
Omar, Ahmad Marzuki
author_sort Rathor, Mohammad Yousuf
collection IIUM
description In recent years there has been growing awareness regarding the role of religion and spirituality (R/S) in the practice of clinical medicine. Despite hundreds of articles in professional journals on the subject, little is known about physician beliefs regarding the influence of religion on health. We aim to assess the beliefs and observations of physicians regarding the role of R/S and patient’s health and whether they address such issues in their clinical practice. Concomitantly, we aim to assess the beliefs of our patients and whether they like to address such issues. Questionnaire was based on a cross sectional survey among hospitalized patients and their treating physicians. Nearly all patients and physicians reported a high prevalence of religiosity. Patients also acknowledged that their R/S was respected by the staff, and that physicians inquired R/S about half of the time. R/S was described as beneficial as it enabled patients to cope better with their illness and gave them a positive state of mind. Religion is important to many patients and physicians, but half of the physicians ignore it in their clinical practice. Physicians need to be attentive to patients R/S issues and address them in specific clinical situations.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:105792014-07-10T04:33:41Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/10579/ Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia Rathor, Mohammad Yousuf Abdul Rani, Mohammed Fauzi Akter, Seikh Farid Uddin SMS, Azarisman Omar, Ahmad Marzuki R Medicine (General) In recent years there has been growing awareness regarding the role of religion and spirituality (R/S) in the practice of clinical medicine. Despite hundreds of articles in professional journals on the subject, little is known about physician beliefs regarding the influence of religion on health. We aim to assess the beliefs and observations of physicians regarding the role of R/S and patient’s health and whether they address such issues in their clinical practice. Concomitantly, we aim to assess the beliefs of our patients and whether they like to address such issues. Questionnaire was based on a cross sectional survey among hospitalized patients and their treating physicians. Nearly all patients and physicians reported a high prevalence of religiosity. Patients also acknowledged that their R/S was respected by the staff, and that physicians inquired R/S about half of the time. R/S was described as beneficial as it enabled patients to cope better with their illness and gave them a positive state of mind. Religion is important to many patients and physicians, but half of the physicians ignore it in their clinical practice. Physicians need to be attentive to patients R/S issues and address them in specific clinical situations. Ibrahim Medical College 2010-01 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/10579/1/%2823%29_Ibrahim_Med_Coll_J_2010_4%281%29_4_8_Religion_Spirituality.pdf Rathor, Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Rani, Mohammed Fauzi and Akter, Seikh Farid Uddin and SMS, Azarisman and Omar, Ahmad Marzuki (2010) Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia. Ibrahim Medical College Journal, 4 (1). pp. 4-8. ISSN 1999-9704 (O), 1999-9690 (P) http://www.imc-bd.net/?Page=Journal
spellingShingle R Medicine (General)
Rathor, Mohammad Yousuf
Abdul Rani, Mohammed Fauzi
Akter, Seikh Farid Uddin
SMS, Azarisman
Omar, Ahmad Marzuki
Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia
title Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia
title_full Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia
title_fullStr Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia
title_short Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine: an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia
title_sort religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in medicine an evaluation in a tertiary care hospital in malaysia
topic R Medicine (General)
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/10579/1/%2823%29_Ibrahim_Med_Coll_J_2010_4%281%29_4_8_Religion_Spirituality.pdf
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