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Farr A. Curlin, MD; Sarah A. Sellergren, MA; John D. Lantos, MD; Marshall H. Chin, MD, MPH

Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(7):649-654.

Background  In spite of a substantial body of empirical data, professional disagreement persists regarding whether and how religion and spirituality (hereinafter "R/S" and treated as a single concept) influences health. This study examines the association between physicians' religious characteristics and their observations and interpretations of the influence of R/S on health.

Methods  A cross-sectional survey was mailed to a stratified, random sample of 2000 practicing US physicians from all specialties. Physicians were asked to estimate how often patients mention R/S issues, how much R/S influences health, and in what ways the influence is manifested.

Results  The response rate was 63%. Most physicians (56%) believed that R/S had much or very much influence on health, but few (6%) believed that R/S often changed "hard" medical outcomes. Rather, most physicians believed that R/S (1) often helps patients to cope (76%), (2) gives patients a positive state of mind (75%), and (3) provides emotional and practical support via the religious community (55%). Compared with those with low religiosity, physicians with high religiosity are substantially more likely to (1) report that patients often mention R/S issues (36% vs 11%)(P<.001); (2) believe that R/S strongly influences health (82% vs 16%) (P<.001); and (3) interpret the influence of R/S in positive rather than negative ways.

Conclusion  Patients are likely to encounter quite different opinions about the relationship between their R/S and their health, depending on the religious characteristics of their physicians.

Author Affiliations: Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (Drs Curlin and Chin), MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics (Drs Curlin, Lantos, and Chin), Committee on Human Development, Department of Psychology (Ms Sellergren), Section of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics (Dr Lantos), The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.

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