The DOI matches its Crossref record; 70 of the 72 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Physicians and Patient Spirituality: Professional Boundaries, Competency, and Ethics
Abstract
Clinical studies are beginning to clarify how spirituality and religion can contribute to the coping strategies of many patients with severe, chronic, and terminal conditions. The ethical aspects of physician attention to the spiritual and religious dimensions of patients' experiences of illness require review and discussion. Should the physician discuss spiritual issues with his or her patients? What are the boundaries between the physician and patient regarding these issues? What are the professional boundaries between the physician and the chaplain? This article examines the physician-patient relationship and medical ethics at a time when researchers are beginning to appreciate the spiritual aspects of coping with illness.
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“Professional organizations such as World Health Organization, 5 American Medical Association(AMA), 6 American Psychological Association(APA) 7 and American Nurses Association(ANA) 8 encourage the use of religious and spiritual dimensions in the provision of holistic care.”
From Religiosity & mental health seeking behaviors among U.S. adults (2024) · cites this paper as [6]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Post, S. G., Puchalski, C. M., & Larson, D. B.
- Affiliations
- George Washington University (US)
- Venue
- Annals of Internal Medicine
- Publisher
- American College of Physicians
- Published
- 2000-04-04
- Volume
- 132
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 578-583
- ISSN
- 0003-4819 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-3704
- OpenAlex
- W1980401671
- Cited by
- 417
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 3.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals 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 › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Ethics in medical practice
- Keywords
- patient spirituality, religion and illness, physician-patient relationship, professional boundaries, chaplaincy, medical ethics, physician competence, coping with illness, terminal illness, chronic disease
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Complementary Therapies, Chronic Disease, Ethics, Medical, Humans, Patients, Physician-Patient Relations, Religion and Medicine, Social Values, Spiritualism, Terminally Ill, Spirituality, Empirical Research
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