The readings indicate that disease and healing are describable by the way in which science and religion interact in the process of care provision. Patients’ beliefs vary, with some not having any religious beliefs at all. Some religious patients may feel that their decisions conflict the scientific approach to treatment (Meilaender, 2013). For these patients, better health outcomes may be possible if nurses and physicians couple diagnosis and treatment with spiritual healing. Religious patients’ faith and belief in God contribute to their medical coping and recovery better than patients who rely on Medicare alone (Shelly & Miller, 2009). Spirituality and healing should be integral parts of healthcare provision.
Indeed, medical practitioners are starting to appreciate the importance of spiritually in healthcare. Compassionate or spiritual care entails serving the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of a patient (Shelly & Miller, 2009). There is a wide belief that it is not suffering that destroys a person, but suffering for which the person cannot see the meaning. It is upon physicians to help patients find meaning and acceptance amidst their medical condition. Medical ethicists have argued that for most people, purpose, and meaning is based on spirituality and religion (Meilaender, 2013). Physical symptoms of patients’ medical condition tend to give rise to both mental and physical suffering, prompting them to ask such questions as what is happening to them, why is it happening, what awaits after death, and how will family members manage. While the cure may not be available for all illnesses, healing always has a place, and it involves answering the mentioned questions (Shelly & Miller, 2009). Spirituality is at the core of healing.
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Spirituality has been found to help patients to cope with illness, pain, and life stresses. Studies indicate that spiritual people's outlook on life tends to be more positive, and they, as a result, have a better life quality. For instance, advanced cancer patients who looked to their spiritual and religious beliefs for comfort reported satisfaction with life, happiness, and less pain (Yates et al., 2008). Other studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between spirituality and the ability to live an enjoyable life amidst pain and other disease symptoms (Brady et al., 2003). Spirituality helps people cope with their illness, and well as face death peaceful in case of terminal illnesses.
Spirituality does not just help to cope, but recovery as well. Patients who are committed to spirituality tend to have their recovery from surgeries and illnesses enhanced. For instance, a study involving patients of heart transplant shows that religious patients who consider their beliefs as important to their recovery process had better improvement of physical functioning, and have less worry and anxiety about health (Harris et al., 2007). Moreover, certain spiritual practices like meditation have been shown to improve health outcomes. Meditation has been found to benefit the treatment of depression, infertility, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, as well as a useful, augment for HIV and cancer treatment (Puchalski, 2001). Spirituality is, in essence, a therapy.
It is evident that spirituality and healing has an important place in the coping and recovery of patients from diseases. Medical ethicists have proposed the incorporation of spirituality into healthcare, and there is evidence that it helps both coping and recovery. Spirituality has been found to help patients to cope with illness, pain, and life stress. The life outlook of spiritual people tends to be more positive, and they, as a result, have a better life quality. Spirituality also helps patients to recover from illnesses, in effect leading to healing. Today provision of health care does not just need advancement in medicine, technology, and nursing best practices, but also spirituality as an essential element.
References
Brady, M. J., Peterman, A. H., Fitchett, G., Mo, M., & Cella, D. (2003). A case for including
spirituality in quality of life measurement in oncology. Psycho‐Oncology: Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer , 8 (5), 417-428.
Harris, R. C., Dew, M. A., Lee, A., Amaya, M., Buches, L., Reetz, D., & Coleman, G. (2007).
The role of religion in heart-transplant recipients' long-term health and well-being. Journal of religion and health , 34 (1), 17-32.
Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: A Primer for Christians . Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
Puchalski, C. M. (2001, October). The role of spirituality in health care. In Baylor University
Medical Center Proceedings (Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 352-357). Taylor & Francis.
Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2009). Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing .
InterVarsity Press.
Yates, J. W., Chalmer, B. J., James, P. S., Follansbee, M., & McKegney, F. P. (2008). Religion
in patients with advanced cancer. Medical and Pediatric Oncology , 9 (2), 121-128.
