Focus on spiritual health can benefit patients—and doctors

Patients’ health and quality of life can improve if doctors pay more attention to patients’ spiritual health, according to a new JAMA Viewpoint article. Spiritual approaches to medical care were particularly helpful at the end of life, Harvard Chan School researchers Tyler Vander Weele and Howard Koh wrote. Yet spirituality often is considered outside the realm of modern medicine. Most physicians have not been trained in spiritual care and most patients don’t receive it. Simply asking patients if they have a religious or spiritual support system that helps them in times of need can be a start. Patients often find strength and solace in their spirituality... ...and clinicians facing issues like burnout can benefit by attending to their own spiritual health as well.

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