Surgeons and the Spirit: A Study on the Relationship of Religiosity to Clinical Practice

Cheever, Kerry H.; Jubilan, Boyce; Dailey, Thomas F.; K, Ehrhardt; Blumenstein, Robert; Morin, Christopher J; Lewis, Charles E.

doi:10.1007/s10943-004-1146-5

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Among paediatric oncologists from the US, half of them assumed that their spiritual/religious beliefs influence the interactions with patients and colleagues [22]. A smaller study enrolling 53 US surgeons found that their “religious beliefs play a part” in their clinical practice, that they feel “guided by a higher power than my own abilities” in their practice, and that their religious beliefs were helpful to deal with their “inability to heal patients with poor prognoses” [23]. In a sample of German psychiatrists, 54% stated that “Religious beliefs influence whole approach to life,” 37% of them tried to “carry religion into other aspects of life,” and also 36% “experience God's presence” [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Spirituality on Cool Down Reactions, Work Engagement, and Life Satisfaction in Anthroposophic Health Care Professionals

Büssing

Lötzke

Glöckler³

et al. 2015

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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This study aimed to analyse whether spirituality is a resource for health care professionals to deal with increasing stress and work burden, specifically to analyse associations between “cool down reactions” (which describe an emotional distancing towards patients and/or reduced engagement as a strategy to protect their own functionality), work burden, and life satisfaction. We specifically focussed on anthroposophic health care professionals because of their unique approach to distinct aspects of spirituality. In a cross-sectional survey using standardized questionnaires, 489 persons were enrolled (66% women, mean age 53 ± 10 years, 41% physicians, 12% nurses, and 47% other health care professionals). They scored very high on all measures of spirituality and moderate to low with respect to “cool down reactions.” Significant predictors of “cool down reactions” were low work vigor, perceived work burden, alcohol consumption, low life satisfaction, and religious orientation (R 2 = 0.20). In contrast, their life satisfaction was explained best (R 2 = 0.35) by vigor, with further positive influences of being a physician, conscious interactions, and living with a partner on one hand and negative influences of “cool down reactions,” work burden, and transcendence convictions on the other hand. Thus, specific aspects of spirituality have only a small influence on anthroposophic health care professionals' “cool down reactions,” but might buffer against a loss of vigor and dedication in their work.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Spirituality on Cool Down Reactions, Work Engagement, and Life Satisfaction in Anthroposophic Health Care Professionals

Büssing

Lötzke

Glöckler³

et al. 2015

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…10,11 This is the first international study of GOs' R/S beliefs. This survey suggests that many GOs use R/S beliefs to cope, like the patients do.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 A survey of surgeons found that 68% felt that their R/S beliefs played a role in their medical practice. 11 One might expect that the stronger a physician's R/S beliefs, the more likely they would be to assess patients' beliefs. In fact, a large, cross-sectional survey of US physicians who self-identified as R/S showed that they were more likely to address R/S beliefs clinically.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious and Spiritual Beliefs of Gynecologic Oncologists May Influence Medical Decision Making

Ramondetta¹,

Brown

Richardson

et al. 2011

International Journal of Gynecological Cancer

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Background Religious and spiritual (R/S) beliefs often affect patients' health care decisions, particularly with regards care at the end of life (EOL). Furthermore, patients desire more R/S involvement by the medical community however; physicians typically do not incorporate R/S assessment into medical interviews with patients. The effects of physicians' R/S beliefs on willingness to participate in controversial clinical practices such as medical abortions and physician assisted suicide has been evaluated, but how a physicians' R/S beliefs may affect other medical decision-making is unclear. Methods Using SurveyMonkey, an online survey tool, we surveyed 1972 members of the International Gynecologic Oncologists Society and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists to determine the R/S characteristics of gynecologic oncologists and whether their R/S beliefs affected their clinical practice. Demographics, religiosity and spirituality data were collected. Physicians were also asked to evaluate 5 complex case scenarios. Results Two hundred seventy-three (14%) physicians responded. Sixty percent “agreed” or “somewhat agreed” that their R/S beliefs were a source of personal comfort. Forty-five percent reported that their R/S beliefs (“sometimes,” “frequently,” or “always”) play a role in the medical options they offered patients, but only 34% “frequently” or “always” take a R/S history from patients. Interestingly, 90% reported that they consider patients' R/S beliefs when discussing EOL issues. Responses to case scenarios largely differed by years of experience although age and R/S beliefs also had influence. Conclusions Our results suggest that gynecologic oncologists' R/S beliefs may affect patient care but that the majority of physicians fail to take a R/S history from their patients. More work needs to be done in order to evaluate possible barriers that prevent physicians from taking a spiritual history and engaging in discussions over these matters with patients.

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“…Responses are scored such that low scores indicate high religiosity; therefore, responses were reverse scored so that high levels equal high religiosity. The DUREL has demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's alpha 5 .89; Cheever et al, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distress From Sexual Thoughts: Do Religiosity, Emotions, and Thought Appraisal Matter?

Wetterneck¹,

Smith²,

Burgess

et al. 2011

J Cogn Psychother

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Sexually intrusive thoughts (SITs) are commonly experienced; yet, there is a paucity of research on distress related to them. Given that the content is similar for intrusive thoughts and obsessions, examining factors related to obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (e.g., thought appraisal and relationships to emotions) may help explain distress from SITs in nonclinical populations. Differences in affective experiences and religiosity may also explain variations in distress from SITs. Nonclinical participants (N 5 291) completed questionnaires about frequency of, and distress from, SITs, thought appraisal, beliefs about sexual desire, and emotions. Distress from SITs was correlated with thought appraisal and beliefs about sexual desire, but not with religiosity. In regression analyses, beliefs about sexual desire and the frequency of SITs each predicted distress from SITs. Although thought appraisal is often implicated in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, these results indicate that beliefs about emotions may have a greater impact on distress.

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Surgeons and the Spirit: A Study on the Relationship of Religiosity to Clinical Practice

Cited by 15 publications

References 19 publications

Influence of Spirituality on Cool Down Reactions, Work Engagement, and Life Satisfaction in Anthroposophic Health Care Professionals

Influence of Spirituality on Cool Down Reactions, Work Engagement, and Life Satisfaction in Anthroposophic Health Care Professionals

Religious and Spiritual Beliefs of Gynecologic Oncologists May Influence Medical Decision Making

Distress From Sexual Thoughts: Do Religiosity, Emotions, and Thought Appraisal Matter?

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