THE IMPORTANCE OF AND METHODS FOR EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSING SPIRITUALITY IN HEALTHCARE

Abstract

Over 80% of the United States patient population identifies as either spiritual, religious, or both. ​​While not everyone actively practices the belief system they identify with, faith is nevertheless an important element in a person's life and often a critical component in health-related decision-making. Recent literature suggests questioning the spiritual needs of the patient allows clinicians to understand patients from a more holistic lens, thus fostering a higher level of empathy, compassion, and patient-centered care. Some doctors still feel unprepared to talk about faith in the clinical setting, and other doctors express reasons for seldom addressing faith, including time constraints, discomfort, and maintaining boundaries. This paper reviews multiple spiritual assessment models, which have been developed to use as guides for physicians when addressing patient spirituality. Appropriate forms of spiritual care on behalf of physicians are represented by the Five Senses of Compassionate Care and the FICA and HOPE spiritual assessment tools, in order to establish and maintain healthy doctor-patient relationships and meet holistic needs of the patient. Discussions on the relation between spirituality and medicine, tools to conduct an assessment conscientiously and respectfully, and physician perspectives are all steps in the right direction towards improved whole-person healthcare.This thesis will review the relevant literature as well as use preliminary data collected in accordance with the University of Arizona IRB standards, to explore the value of integrating spirituality in medicine and how to do so effectively. The doctors in this study were surveyed on the importance of addressing patient spirituality, and interviews were conducted to gather additional perspectives. It was hypothesized that physicians at Alvernon Family Medicine Clinic would be willing to discuss spirituality with their patients. It was concluded that the majority of physicians are open to conducting spiritual assessments if they are provided training on how to do so.