Spirituality and faith in healing terminal illness patients

Spirituality Positively Affects Those With Terminal Illness

Medicine and the dimension of spirituality were before bounded apart from each other in terms of belief, specifically in the field of science. As a universal practice, the field of medicine functions as a single dimension, focusing on the medical model of seeking the causes and solutions from scientific perspectives. Until recently, however, many patients of terminal illnesses such as cancer and heart disease have claimed the correlation of their religion and faith in sustaining their hope to recover from illnesses. This assertion has caught the attention of diverse health professions and lead to conduction of research and studies in the analysis of religion or spirituality as element in medical process.

This paper aims to explore the assertions and idea of spirituality as being able to help in the healing process of terminally ill patients. The recognition of values of elements such as faith and religion by both patients and doctors is one of the essential aspects of this study's research and analysis. Embodying in this study the idea and claims of patients who obtained positive outcomes is an essential step taken in finding the role that lies under spirituality in the medical process.

In the United States, a survey on religiosity has been conducted and was indicated by Gallup in his report as the follows (McCormick, 1998).

Surveys of the U.S. public in the Gallup Report consistently show a high prevalence of belief in God (95%) while 84% claim that religion is important to their lives. Approximately 40% of Americans attend religious services at least once a week.

The result of Gallup's survey shows that religiosity plays a major part in the lives of many Americans. Hence, it is no wonder for previous research and studies to find a high prevalence of spirituality in patients within the context of medicine. Another survey, conducted by Maugans, with patients and physicians as the respondents, the following report provides consistency of outcomes in the subject of spirituality within medicine.

One survey in Vermont involving 115 family physicians and 135 patients showed that 91% of the patients reported belief in God as compared with 64% of the physicians.

Spirituality or religious commitment has been found in previous studies and research as an essential component in healing and treatment procedures. Based from previous clinical analysis, this study finds assertions from patients of the positive consequences religious commitment brings. The review of literatures and related research has revealed that medical authorities are not completely acknowledging spirituality in their field of service. Some physicians find that there is a contrasting perspective between spirituality and medical science. However, despite of this, studies also reveal that physicians consider ethical practice in favor of the terminally ill patients.

Many patients of terminal diseases have attested to the subject that spirituality causes positive effects on them. Even physicians have revealed that there were terminally ill patients who demonstrated positive outlooks due to religious commitment. As part of this study's theme, an analysis and research on the part of patients and medical authorities' perspectives on spirituality and medicine is included.

Hypothesis

Several studies and research have provided systematic examination and analysis on the positive effects of spirituality on terminally ill patients. Many of which have carried the conclusion that religion or spirituality is an essential alternative aspect in healing the sick. This has been supported by surveys, conducted on patients and medical professionals, showing the significance of religious commitment on health.

Along with the perspectives of available studies and research on the relationship of spirituality and medicine, this paper aims to explore the hypothesis that spirituality positively affects those with terminal illness. In recent medical experiences, spirituality, having to cause positive outcomes to many patients, was defined as an element in decreasing the struggles of pain, depression, and other symptoms of diverse illnesses. Previous studies have found and suggest that strong sense of faith, hope, and commitment to religion provides beneficial factors in the treatment of terminally ill patients.

The assessment of embracing religion as a relative associate in treatment of illnesses may allow more information that is essential in medicine. Many patients have claimed that commitment to their religion have provided them with sense of hope and faith to recover from disease. Among medical practitioners on the other hand, the opinion and belief on the effects of spirituality are divided. Some have suggested the relevance of religious commitment as an added and alternative treatment to patients. Others, on the contrary, who oppose on the belief of healing through faith, rely on the scientific views of science.

As part of this paper's research on the effects of spirituality to patients as integrated in medical process, the increasing recognition of spiritual beliefs by both patients and medical professions as an essential element in terms of healing and medical process will be analyzed. One literature states the following report from the World Health Organization on the subject of spirituality and medicine.

The World Health Organization reports: "Until recently the health professions have largely followed a medical model, which seeks to treat patients by focusing on medicines and surgery, and gives less importance to beliefs and to faith - in healing, in the physician, and in the doctor-patient relationship. This reductionist or mechanic view of patients is no longer satisfactory. Patients and physicians have begun to realize the value of elements such as faith, hope, and compassion in the healing process.

As declared by patients and medical professionals, some of the aspects affected by religious faith, aside from the physical conditions of the patients, are the psychological and behavioral factors of patients. Clinical occurrences such as depression, stress, anxiety, and other behavioral disorders were found to significantly decrease on patients of terminal diseases who devote to their religion.

It is essential to study and analyze the manifestation of advantages or disadvantages that spirituality suggests to patients and doctors. This study includes research on this subject in its aim to determine and prove the hypothesis that spirituality positively affects patients of terminal illness.

Medical authorities are still uncertain on the importance and relevance of spirituality in health.

Thus, leading to many studies and research being conducted to test and prove the claims of many patients, as this study aims to review.

Methods

This study's prospective approach in gathering data is to employ a quantitative method. The prospective area of study is a hospital that admits terminally ill patients. Specific to this study's subject, patients manifesting religious imagery and those that shows no sign of spirituality or religious commitment will be the intended participants and respondents to questionnaires and interviews.

As part of this research, finding rationales in terms of medical theories, and explanations on the subject of spirituality having to cause positive consequences to terminally ill patients, included are the idea, belief, and scientific philosophy of medical authorities, particularly the physicians of terminally ill patients. Gathering data from both the patients and the medical professionals provides a collaboration of cause and effect of spirituality. Thus, determining the general details of the study's subject from both parties.

The measures for assessing the positive effects of spirituality on terminally patients will be through an analysis of the illness of patients and their strength and depth of religious commitment. Also, the consequences and the result of the physical and psychological condition of patients, when committed to spiritual or religion, will be analyzed. Some of the psychological and emotional scales that will be validated from patients are their rate of depression, anxiety, stress, hope, and encouragement and belief of recovery.

When available, former patients of terminal diseases will also be analyzed in this study.

Their experiences from previous sufferings of disease and any cases of gain of positive behavior from any reason will be studied.

Proposed Statistical Techniques

In the course of analysis, the recordings of data will be gathered from both patients and medical authorities. To statistically find results based on the response of the participants, the data acquired will be divided and grouped into classes of outcomes that spirituality causes in terminal illnesses. Such includes the psychological, emotional, behavioral, and physical classes. Data from the response of doctors and physicians will also be analyzed and grouped into classes as: those who acknowledge spirituality or religious commitment as a positive factor in healing and treatment process, and those who do not recognize the effects of spirituality.

One of the statistical techniques widely used in research and studies is the vertical bar report. This study proposes to use this technique to clearly illustrate the percentage rate of results from each determining factor and measurement scales of the effects of spirituality. Through this, a comparison of findings will be facilitated. Differentiating the results will also be facilitated through this technique.

In addition to the proposed statistical techniques, the use of random sampling in which the result and findings are independent from certain factors such as the type of religion of patients or the depth of their religious commitment. This will allow the determination of the depth of effects of spirituality on terminally ill patients, or the determination as to which state of the patient's belief spirituality positively affects him.

Although spirituality is a form in which we communicate with a higher being, and the higher being communicating with us, as in God in the case of Catholics, the positive effects He may bestow to terminally ill patients is still immeasurable. However, through an analysis of the experiences of patients of terminal diseases, we may be able to determine how spirituality helps patients in coping from sufferings.

Expected Findings

This study expects to find the truth or fallacy on the hypothesis that spirituality positively affects terminally ill patients. For those who do not believe in any higher form of being, this hypothesis may be a fallacy. But for those who are committed to their religion, this hypothesis may be of truth.

Many of previous research and studies conducted on this subject have found that spirituality plays a major role in the improvement and wellness of terminally ill patients. The effect may not be of physical terms but most asserted that the psychological and behavioral aspects of terminally ill patients positively developed, such as lessening of depression and anxiety, and development of hope to recover from illness.

While many patients assert that spirituality have affected them positively while struggling from a disease, some medical authorities are uncertain of the effects spirituality really brings. This study expects to find how the medical professions respond to the subject of spirituality while maintaining their purpose of working in the field of science. It expects to obtain how medicine resolves the matter that the patients' religious commitment contributes in their coping strategies.

Further, findings are expected on the context of integrated medicine and spirituality. Several clinical studies are devoting research in the analysis of spirituality being acknowledged and recognized in medicine. Some medical authorities find it inappropriate to recognize spirituality in their service because it is very contrary to the belief their field of expertise falls. The question of professional boundaries sometimes requires them to exemplify spirituality being different from medicine. However, ethical issues also require them, personally, to appreciate the aspects of spirituality as the helpfulness and effectiveness of its dimension have been asserted by many patients of terminal diseases. One literature suggests the need for support from physicians on patients' belief in spirituality.

The beneficient physician who is committed to the patient's best interests must consider how to support patient spirituality, if and when the patient deems it relevant; spirituality is also to be respected as an expression of patient autonomy. This ethical responsibility suggests the importance of attention to spirituality during routine clinical assessments

The findings expected in this study are all in the subject of spirituality within medicine, within the perspective of patients and medical authorities. Despite the complex nature of spirituality associated in medicine, the objective of this study is to provide further information, analysis, and evidence on role played by religious commitment in the construct of medicine.

Conclusion

The medical research and analysis of previous studies have shown that spirituality can positively affect terminally ill patients. Despite of this, continuous research is being conducted in the study of the many areas covered by the issue of spirituality in medicine. Such areas include the physical, psychological, and emotional conditions of patients. In the context of medical field, the perspective of studies on spirituality is in the boundaries of their professional beliefs and ethical aspects.

The positive effects spirituality has manifested to many patients draws diverse studies and research on medical and religious frameworks. Establishing general rationales and consequences to medicine, of patients having commitment of faith in a higher being, is the objective aimed by studies on the subject.

Spirituality in its form and dimension of bringing unfathomable consequences has helped patients in their medical struggles from terminal illnesses. Patients of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and other acute and chronic illnesses have attested to the theory that religious commitment helped them cope from emotional, psychological, and physical difficulties. Despite of some uncertainties from medical authorities in making their scientific perspectives meet the perspectives of spirituality, the field of medicine does not close its doors in analyzing the premise between religion and science. It has never refuted the fact that many patients consider spirituality or religious commitment as an important aspect in facing the struggles caused by terminal illnesses.

Although many studies have shown high confirmation of the positive consequences of spirituality on patients' terminal diseases, as with the perspective of medicine being open in acknowledging the truth behind spirituality, many literatures and research also provide the same benefit to medical science in proving the possibility in scientific rationales about the claim that the positive results on terminal illness are caused by spirituality.

Defining the boundary between spiritual and medical practices is essential. Though the purpose of both contexts is to provide relief to terminally ill patients, the definition of each area is still in contrast to the rationales they believe - spirituality focuses on a dimension of unexplainable power through mediums such as prayer, while medicine concentrates on scientific framework whose reasons are based on provable scientific facts.

Despite of the boundaries that delineate spirituality and medicine, however, it would be a more efficient practice if both becomes important aspects in healing and treatment of terminally ill patients. Medicine has already established its self, depended upon by almost everyone, and found to be effective and useful in occasions of sickness. Spirituality or religious commitment, on the other hand, comes through only to those who have faith and belief in their religion. In terms of the advantages both provide in the context of terminal illnesses or any classes of diseas, recognizing both fields as having to cause positive effects would do no harm to patients and medical authorities.

Previous research and studies suggests the effectiveness of spirituality. From this study's review, there are quite large numbers of occurrences that indicate a high confirmation that spirituality or religious commitment positively affects terminally ill patients. This result is suggested from the data gathered by previous research and analysis in the perspectives of patients and medical authorities.