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Cited by 503Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyPalliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesEthics and bioethics in healthcare

Do Patients Want Physicians to Inquire About Their Spiritual or Religious Beliefs If They Become Gravely Ill?

Ehman, John W., Ott, Barbara B., Short, Thomas H., Ciampa, Ralph C., Hansen-Flaschen, John·1999·Archives of Internal Medicine
DOI 10.1001/archinte.159.15.1803
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recognizing that many Americans draw on religious or spiritual beliefs when confronted by serious illness, some medical educators have recommended that physicians routinely ask about spirituality or religion when conducting a medical history. The most appropriate wording for such an inquiry remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine patient acceptance of including the following question in the medical history of ambulatory outpatients: "Do you have spiritual or religious beliefs that would influence your medical decisions if you become gravely ill?" METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 177 ambulatory adult patients visiting a pulmonary faculty office practice at a university teaching hospital in 1997 (83% response rate). RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of the study patients described themselves as religious and 90% believe that prayer may sometimes influence recovery from an illness. Forty-five percent reported that religious beliefs would influence their medical decisions if they become gravely ill. Ninety-four percent of individuals with such beliefs agreed or strongly agreed that physicians should ask them whether they have such beliefs if they become gravely ill. Forty-five percent of the respondents who denied having such beliefs also agreed that physicians should ask about them. Altogether, two thirds of the respondents indicated that they would welcome the study question in a medical history, whereas 16% reported that they would not. Only 15% of the study group recalled having been asked whether spiritual or religious beliefs would influence their medical decisions. CONCLUSION: Many but not all patients surveyed in a pulmonary outpatient practice welcome a carefully worded inquiry about their spiritual or religious beliefs in the event that they become gravely ill.

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  • Social factors are known to influence both mental health and physical health and predict greater longevity.

    “Social factors, in turn, are known to influence both mental health and physical health and predict greater longevity [574–576].”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [575]

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Authors
Ehman, J. W., Ott, B. B., Short, T. H., Ciampa, R. C., & Hansen-Flaschen, J.
Affiliations
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (US)
ORCID
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
1999-08-09
Volume
159
Issue
15
Pages
1803
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archinte.159.15.1803
OpenAlex
W2008886936
Cited by
503
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 35
FWCI
21.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
Keywords
spiritual beliefs, religious beliefs, medical history, seriously ill patients, patient attitudes
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Attitude to Death, Communication, Female, Holistic Health, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patients, Physician-Patient Relations, Surveys and Questionnaires, Religion and Medicine, Social Values, Terminal Care, United States, Spirituality, Trust

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