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Hoosen M, Roman NV, Mthembu TG, Naseer M. Unani Tibb practitioners' perceptions and attitudes towards spirituality and spiritual care in Unani Tibb practice in South Africa. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:189. [PMID: 37296450 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04002-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unani Tibb is an Arabic term which means Greek medicine. It is an ancient holistic medical system based on the healing theories of Hippocrates, Galen and Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Despite this, spirituality and spiritual care practices are deficient in the clinical setting. METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study was used to describe Unani Tibb practitioners' perceptions and attitudes regarding spirituality and spiritual care in South Africa. A demographic form, Spiritual Care-Giving Scale, Spiritual and Spiritual Care Rating Scale and Spirituality in Unani Tibb Scale were used to collect data. RESULTS A response rate of 64.7% (n = 44 out of 68) was achieved. Positive perceptions and attitudes regarding spirituality and spiritual care were recorded for Unani Tibb practitioners. The spiritual needs of their patients were considered vital towards enhancing the Unani Tibb treatment approach. Spirituality and spiritual care were regarded as fundamental to Unani Tibb therapy. However, most practitioners agreed that adequate training in spirituality and spiritual care was lacking and future training initiatives were imperative for Unani Tibb clinical practice in South Africa. CONCLUSION The findings of this study recommends further research in this field by means of qualitative and mixed methods approaches to provide a deeper understanding to this phenomenon. Clear guidelines on spirituality and spiritual care for Unani Tibb clinical practice are essential to ensure the integrity of the holistic approach required by the profession.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujeeb Hoosen
- School of Natural Medicine, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, The University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
| | - Nicolette Vanessa Roman
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Family and Society, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, The University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Thuli Godfrey Mthembu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Mursaleen Naseer
- Department of Moalejat, Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, Faculty of Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
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Hvidt NC, Curlin F, Büssing A, Baumann K, Frick E, Søndergaard J, Nielsen JB, Lawrence R, Lucchetti G, Ramakrishnan P, Wermuth I, Hefti R, Lee E, Kørup AK. The NERSH Questionnaire and Pool of Data from 12 Countries: Development and Description. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2022; 61:2605-2630. [PMID: 34599478 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01428-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Modern healthcare research has only in recent years investigated the impact of health care workers' religious and other values on medical practice, interaction with patients, and ethically complex decision making. So far, only limited international data exist on the way such values vary across different countries. We therefore established the NERSH International Collaboration on Values in Medicine with datasets on physician religious characteristics and values based on the same questionnaire. The present article provides (a) an overview of the development of the original and optimized questionnaire, (b) an overview of the content of the NERSH data pool at this stage and (c) a brief review of insights gained from articles published with the questionnaire. The pool at this stage consists of data from 17 studies from research units in 12 different countries representing six continents with responses from more than 6000 health professionals. The joint data pool suggests that there are large differences in religious and other moral values across nations and cultures, and that these values contribute to the observed differences in health professionals' clinical practices-across nations and cultures!
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Christian Hvidt
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
- Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Farr Curlin
- Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Arndt Büssing
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313, Herdecke, Germany
| | - Klaus Baumann
- Caritas Science and Christian Social Work, Faculty of Theology, Freiburg University, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Eckhard Frick
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Research Centre Spiritual Care, The University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Langerstr. 3, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Forschungsstelle Spiritual Care, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Munich School of Philosophy, Kaulbachstr. 31, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jesper Bo Nielsen
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ryan Lawrence
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Giancarlo Lucchetti
- Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Avenida Eugênio de Nascimento s/n - Aeroporto, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36038330, Brazil
| | | | - Inga Wermuth
- Medical Faculty, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - René Hefti
- Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Research Institute for Spirituality and Health (RISH), Langenthal, Switzerland
| | - Eunmi Lee
- Caritas Science and Christian Social Work, Faculty of Theology, Freiburg University Center for Social Cohesion, Daegu Catholic University, Hayang-Ro 13-13, Hayang-Eup, Gyeongsan-Si, Gyeongbuk, 38430, Republic of Korea
| | - Alex Kappel Kørup
- Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Mental Health Kolding-Vejle, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Hoosen M, Roman NV, Mthembu TG. The Development of Guidelines for the Inclusion of Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Unani Tibb Practice in South Africa: A Study Protocol. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2022; 61:1261-1281. [PMID: 33108598 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-020-01105-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Unani Tibb is a holistic form of medicine, which highlights the interconnectedness of mind, body and soul. Despite this, there is very little evidence of spiritual care practices by Unani Tibb practitioners in South Africa. This protocol outlines a proposed process for developing guidelines to integrate spirituality and spiritual care in Unani Tibb practice. In phase one, a document review will be conducted on spirituality and spiritual care in complementary and alternative medicine and Unani Tibb. A series of quantitative and qualitative enquiries will follow to obtain the perspectives of various stakeholders in the Unani Tibb profession. Phase two will rely on the findings of phase I to develop guidelines according to the Delphi method. Experts in the relevant fields will be soliciting their opinions on the nature and content of the proposed guidelines. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistical analyses, thematic analysis and narrative synthesis. Ethics clearance has been obtained from the ethics committee of the university.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujeeb Hoosen
- School of Natural Medicine, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, The University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
| | - Nicolette Vanessa Roman
- The Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Family and Society, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, The University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Thuli Godfrey Mthembu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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Kørup AK, Søndergaard J, Alyousefi NA, Lucchetti G, Baumann K, Lee E, Karimah A, Ramakrishnan P, Frick E, Büssing A, Schouten E, Butcher W, Hefti R, Wermuth I, Hvidt NC. The International NERSH Data Pool of Health Professionals' Attitudes Toward Religiosity and Spirituality in 12 Countries. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2021; 60:596-619. [PMID: 32776266 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-020-01077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The amount of research concerned with the values of health professionals (HPs) is steadily growing. Around the world HPs face similar challenges when patients express their existential and spiritual views. How HPs engage these views, and the degree of embedment into consultations, differ across cultures. Today, more than ever before, researchers in this field need to share experiences and build new knowledge upon local findings. To meet this demand, we founded the international collaboration "Network for Research on Spirituality and Health" ( https://NERSH.org ). One of the central projects of our network has been to build a large international data pool of health professionals' attitudes toward religiosity and spirituality. Today the data pool hosts answers from more than 6,000 health professionals from 17 separate surveys derived from 12 countries. Data were gathered by either the questionnaire "Religion and Spirituality in Medicine, Perspectives of Physicians" (RSMPP) or its successor 'NERSH Questionnaire'. In this article we describe the methodology behind the construction of the data pool. We also present an overview of five available scales related to HP religiosity and spirituality, including a description of scale reliability and dimensionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Kappel Kørup
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, C 5000, Odense, Denmark.
- Department of Mental Health Kolding-Vejle, University of Southern Denmark, 7100, Vejle, Denmark.
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, C 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Nada A Alyousefi
- College of Medicine, King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Giancarlo Lucchetti
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Avenida Eugênio de Nascimento s/n-Aeroporto, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36038330, Brazil
| | - Klaus Baumann
- Caritas Science and Christian Social Work, Faculty of Theology, Albert-Ludwig-University, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eunmi Lee
- Caritas Science and Christian Social Work, Faculty of Theology, Albert-Ludwig-University, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Social Cohesion, Catholic University of Daegu, Hayang-Ro 13-13, Hayang-Eup, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea, 38430
| | - Azimatul Karimah
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
| | - Parameshwaran Ramakrishnan
- Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- AdiBhat Foundation, New Delhi, 110048, India
| | - Eckhard Frick
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Research Centre Spiritual Care, The University Hospital, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Langerstr. 3, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Munich School of Philosophy, Kaulbachstr. 31, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Arndt Büssing
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, Herdecke, 58313, Witten, Germany
| | - Esther Schouten
- Medical Faculty, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Wyatt Butcher
- School of Divinity, King's College, University of Aberdeen, 81377, München, Germany
| | - René Hefti
- Research Institute for Spirituality and Health, Weissensteinstrasse 30, 4900, Langenthal, Switzerland
- Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Inga Wermuth
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Munich, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Niels Christian Hvidt
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, C 5000, Odense, Denmark
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Kørup AK, Søndergaard J, Lucchetti G, Ramakrishnan P, Baumann K, Lee E, Frick E, Büssing A, Alyousefi NA, Karimah A, Schouten E, Wermuth I, Hvidt NC. Religious values of physicians affect their clinical practice: A meta-analysis of individual participant data from 7 countries. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e17265. [PMID: 31568003 PMCID: PMC6756708 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000017265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observational studies indicate that religious values of physicians influence clinical practice. The aim of this study was to test prior hypotheses of prevalence of this influence using a meta-analysis design. METHODS Based on a systematic literature search we performed individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) on data based on 2 preselected questionnaires. Ten samples from 7 countries remained after exclusion (n = 3342). IPDMA was performed using a random-effects model with 2 summary measures: the mean value of the scale "Religiosity of Health Professionals"; and a dichotomized value of the question "My religious beliefs influence my practice of medicine." Also, a sensitivity analysis was performed using a mixed-models design controlling for confounders. RESULTS Mean score of religiosity (95% confidence interval [CI]) was significantly lower in the European subgroup (8.46 [6.96-9.96]) compared with the Asian samples India (10.46 [9.82-10.21]) and Indonesia (12.52 [12.19-12.84]), whereas Brazil (9.76 [9.54-9.99]) and USA (10.02 [9.82-10.21]) were placed in between. The proportion of the European physicians who agreed to the statement "My religious beliefs influence my practice of medicine" (95% CI) was 42% (26%-59%) compared with Brazil (36% [29%-43%]), USA (57% [54%-60%]), India (58% [52%-63%]), and Indonesia (91% [84%-95%]). CONCLUSIONS Although large cross-cultural variations existed in the samples, 50% of physicians reported to be influenced by their religious beliefs. Religiosity and influence of religious beliefs were most pronounced in India, Indonesia, and a European faith-based hospital. Education regimes of current and future physicians should encompass this influence, and help physicians learn how their personal values influence their clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Kappel Kørup
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C
- Department of Mental Health Service, Vejle, Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C
| | - Giancarlo Lucchetti
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Avenida Eugênio de Nascimento s/n-Aeroporto, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Klaus Baumann
- Caritas Science and Christian Social Work, Faculty of Theology, Albert-Ludwig-University D-79085, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg
| | - Eunmi Lee
- Caritas Science and Christian Social Work, Faculty of Theology, Albert-Ludwig-University D-79085, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg
| | - Eckhard Frick
- Research Centre Spiritual Care, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, The University Hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar, Langerstr
- Munich School of Philosophy, Kaulbachstr., Munich
| | - Arndt Büssing
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, Herdecke, Germany
| | - Nada A. Alyousefi
- College of Medicine, King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Azimatul Karimah
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
| | - Esther Schouten
- Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15
| | - Inga Wermuth
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Munich, Munich
| | - Niels Christian Hvidt
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C
- Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark
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The Compound Effect of Cupping Therapy: Searching Beyond the Meridians. JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH 2018. [DOI: 10.13045/jar.2018.00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Ramakrishnan P, Baccari A, Ramachandran U, Ahmed SF, Koenig HG. Teachers' and Parents' Perspectives on a Curricular Subject of "Religion and Spirituality" for Indian Schools: A Pilot Study Toward School Mental Health Program. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2018; 57:1330-1349. [PMID: 28819897 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-017-0474-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Religious-spiritual (R/S) education helps medical students cope with caregiving stress and gain skills in interpersonal empathy needed for clinical care. Such R/S education has been introduced into K-12 and college curricula in some developed nations and has been found to positively impact student's mental health. Such a move has not yet been seen in the Indian education system. This paper aimed to examine perspectives of teachers and parents in India on appropriateness, benefits, and challenges of including R/S education into the school curriculum and also to gather their impressions on how a R/S curriculum might promote students' health. A cross-sectional study of religiously stratified sample of teachers and parents was initiated in three preselected schools in India and the required sample size (N = 300) was reached through snowballing technique. A semi-structured questionnaire, with questions crafted from "Religion and Spirituality in Medicine, Physicians Perspective" (RSMPP) and "American Academy of Religion's (AAR) Guidelines for Religious Literacy," was used to determine participants' perspectives. Findings revealed that teachers' and parents' "comfort in integrating R/S into school curriculum" was associated with their gender (OR 1.68), education status (OR 1.05), and intrinsic religiosity (OR 1.05). Intrinsic religiosity was significantly (p = 0.025) high among parents while "intrinsic spirituality" was high (p = 0.020) among teachers. How participants' R/S characteristics influence their support of R/S education in school is discussed. In conclusion, participants believe R/S education will fosters students' emotional health and interpersonal skills needed for social leadership. A curriculum that incorporates R/S education, which is based on AAR guidelines and clinically validated interpersonal spiritual care tools would be acceptable to both teachers and parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parameshwaran Ramakrishnan
- AdiBhat Foundation, New Delhi, India.
- Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, 42 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Andrew Baccari
- Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, 42 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Uma Ramachandran
- Indus World School, 61/21, Badshahpur-Darbaripur Road, Sector 70, Gurgaon, Haryana, 122001, India
| | - Syed Faiz Ahmed
- Guidance High School, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Harold G Koenig
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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The International NERSH Data Pool—A Methodological Description of a Data Pool of Religious and Spiritual Values of Health Professionals from Six Continents. RELIGIONS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/rel8020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Spirituality, Religiosity, and Health: a Comparison of Physicians' Attitudes in Brazil, India, and Indonesia. Int J Behav Med 2016; 23:63-70. [PMID: 26025629 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-015-9491-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the biggest challenges in the spirituality, religiosity, and health field is to understand how patients and physicians from different cultures deal with spiritual and religious issues in clinical practice. PURPOSE The present study aims to compare physicians' perspectives on the influence of spirituality and religion (S/R) on health between Brazil, India, and Indonesia. METHOD This is a cross-sectional, cross-cultural, multi-center study carried out from 2010 to 2012, examining physicians' attitudes from two continents. Participants completed a self-rated questionnaire that collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, S/R involvement, and perspectives concerning religion, spirituality, and health. Differences between physicians' responses in each country were examined using chi-squared, ANOVA, and MANCOVA. RESULTS A total of 611 physicians (194 from Brazil, 295 from India, and 122 from Indonesia) completed the survey. Indonesian physicians were more religious and more likely to address S/R when caring for patients. Brazilian physicians were more likely to believe that S/R influenced patients' health. Brazilian and Indonesians were as likely as to believe that it is appropriate to talk and discuss S/R with patients, and more likely than Indians. No differences were found concerning attitudes toward spiritual issues. CONCLUSION Physicians from these different three countries had very different attitudes on spirituality, religiosity, and health. Ethnicity and culture can have an important influence on how spirituality is approached in medical practice. S/R curricula that train physicians how to address spirituality in clinical practice must take these differences into account.
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The NERSH International Collaboration on Values, Spirituality and Religion in Medicine: Development of Questionnaire, Description of Data Pool, and Overview of Pool Publications. RELIGIONS 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/rel7080107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Integrative Medicine in Preventive Medicine Education: Implementation Analysis. Am J Prev Med 2015; 49:S241-8. [PMID: 26477899 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In September 2012, the Health Resources and Services Administration funded 12 preventive medicine residency programs to participate in a 2-year project aimed at incorporating integrative medicine (IM) into their residency training programs. The grantees were asked to incorporate competencies for IM into their respective preventive medicine residency curricula and to provide for faculty development in IM. The analysis conducted in 2014-2015 used the following evidence to assess residency programs' achievements and challenges in implementation: progress and performance measures reports, curriculum mapping of program activities to IM competencies, records of webinar participation, and post-project individual semi-structured phone interviews with the 12 grantee project leaders. Key findings are: (1) IM activities offered to residents increased by 50% during the 2 years; (2) Accessing IM resources already in existence at local grantee sites was the primary facilitator of moving the integration of IM into preventive medicine residencies forward; (3) Among all activities offered residents, rotations were perceived by grantees as by far the most valuable contributor to acquiring IM competencies; (4) Online training was considered a greater contributor to preventive medicine residents' medical knowledge in IM than faculty lectures or courses; (5) Faculty were offered a rich variety of opportunities for professional development in IM, but some programs lacked a system to ensure faculty participation; and (6) Perceived lack of evidence for IM was a barrier to full program implementation at some sites. Grantees expect implemented programs to continue post-funding, but with decreased intensity owing to perceived faculty and curriculum time constraints.
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Hughes GD, Aboyade OM, Beauclair R, Mbamalu ON, Puoane TR. Characterizing Herbal Medicine Use for Noncommunicable Diseases in Urban South Africa. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2015; 2015:736074. [PMID: 26557865 PMCID: PMC4629029 DOI: 10.1155/2015/736074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Economic challenges associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the sociocultural outlook of many patients especially in Africa have increased dependence on traditional herbal medicines (THMs) for these diseases. A cross-sectional descriptive study designed to determine the prevalence of and reasons for THM use in the management of NCDs among South African adults was conducted in an urban, economically disadvantaged area of Cape Town, South Africa. In a cohort of 1030 participants recruited as part of the existing Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, 456 individuals were identified. The overall prevalence of THM use was 27%, of which 61% was for NCDs. Participants used THM because of a family history (49%) and sociocultural beliefs (33%). Hypertensive medication was most commonly used concurrently with THM. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the potential dualistic use of THM and conventional drugs by patients, as this could significantly influence health outcomes. Efforts should be made to educate patients on the potential for drug/herb interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail D. Hughes
- South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute (SAHSMI), Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Oluwaseyi M. Aboyade
- South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Roxanne Beauclair
- The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
- International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185 UZP114, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Oluchi N. Mbamalu
- School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Thandi R. Puoane
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Clinical works at the intersection of 'spirituality, religion, theology and medicine' are studied to identify various aspects of what constitutes spirituality, what contributes to spiritual health and how to provide spiritual-healers for our current health-care system. RECENT FINDINGS Spiritual care in the current medical world can be classed grossly into two departments: complementary and alternative medicine, considered as proxy variable for spirituality, and physician-initiated clinical Chaplaincy, informed by theology. The large body of research on 'self' as a therapeutic tool, though, falls into subtle categories: phenomenological studies, empathy, embodied care, and mindfulness-based therapies. Development in the field of 'spiritual medicine' has focused on spirituality-related curricula. SUMMARY As mindfulness-based meditation programs help build deep listening skills needed to stay aware of the 'self', Clinical Pastoral Education trains the chaplain to transcend the 'self' to provide embodied care. Clinical chaplaincy is the destination for health-care professionals as well as theological/religious scholars who have patients' spiritual health as their primary focus. Medical education curricula that train students in chaplain's model of transpersonal-mindfulness/empathy founded on neuro-physiological principles would help them gain skills in embodied care. Such education would seamlessly integrate evidence-based clinical practice and spiritual-theological concepts.
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Ramakrishnan P, Karimah A, Kuntaman K, Shukla A, Ansari BKM, Rao PH, Ahmed M, Tribulato A, Agarwal AK, Koenig HG, Murthy P. Religious/spiritual characteristics of indian and indonesian physicians and their acceptance of spirituality in health care: a cross-cultural comparison. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2015; 54:649-663. [PMID: 24944165 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-014-9906-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Religious/spiritual (r/s) characteristics of physicians influence their attitude toward integrative medicine and spiritual care. Indonesia physicians collaborate with traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) professionals within modern healthcare system, while Indian physicians are not reported to do so. The aim of the study was to understand the r/s characteristics and their influence on Indian and Indonesian physicians' acceptance of TCAM/spirituality in modern healthcare system. An exploratory, pilot, cross-cultural, cross-sectional study, using Religion and Spirituality in Medicine, and Physician Perspectives (RSMPP) survey questionnaire, compared r/s characteristics and perspectives on integrative medicine of 169 physicians from two allopathic, Sweekar-Osmania University (Sweekar-OU), India, University of Airlanga (UNAIR), Indonesia, and a TCAM/Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM) institute from India. More physicians from UNAIR and CRIUM (89.1 %) described themselves as "very"/"moderately" religious, compared to 63.5 % Sweekar-OU (p = 0.0000). Greater number of (84.6 %) UNAIR physicians described themselves as "very" spiritual and also significantly high (p < 0.05) in intrinsic religiosity as compared to Sweekar-OU and TCAM physicians; 38.6 % of UNAIR and 32.6 % of CRIUM participants reported life-changing spiritual experiences in clinical settings as against 19.7 % of Sweekar-OU; 92.3 % of UNAIR, compared to CRIUM (78.3 %) and Sweekar-OU (62 %), felt comfortable attending to patients' spiritual needs, (p = 0.0001). Clinical comfort and not r/s characteristics of participants was the significant (p = 0.05) variable in full regression models, predictive of primary outcome criteria; "TCAM or r/s healing as complementary to allopathic treatment." In conclusion, mainstreaming TCAM into healthcare system may be an initial step toward both integrative medicine and also improving r/s care interventions by allopathic physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ramakrishnan
- Center for Development of Spirituality as Medical Subject, AdhiBhat Foundation India, R-80 Greater, Kailaish, New Delhi, India,
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Ramakrishnan P, Rane A, Dias A, Bhat J, Shukla A, Lakshmi S, Ansari BK, Ramaswamy RS, Reddy RA, Tribulato A, Agarwal AK, SatyaPrasad N, Mushtaq A, Rao PH, Murthy P, Koenig HG. Indian health care professionals' attitude towards spiritual healing and its role in alleviating stigma of psychiatric services. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2014; 53:1800-1814. [PMID: 24430129 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-014-9822-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Persons with mental illnesses in India and rest of developing world continue to consult religious/spiritual (R/S) healers or traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) professionals prior to seeking psychiatric services that are devoid of spiritual components of care. We aim to understand TCAM and allopathic professionals' perspectives on patients' R/S needs within mental health services, cross-sectional study was conducted at five TCAM and two allopathic tertiary care hospitals in three different Indian states; 393 participants completed RSMPP, a self-administered, semi-structured survey questionnaire. Perspectives of TCAM and allopathic health professionals on role of spirituality in mental health care were compared. Substantial percentage, 43.7 % TCAM and 41.3 % allopathic, of participants believe that their patients approach R/S or TCAM practitioners for severe mental illness; 91.2 % of TCAM and 69.7 % of allopaths were satisfied with R/S healers (p = 0.0019). Furthermore, 91.1 % TCAM and 73.1 % allopaths (p = 0.000) believe that mental health stigma can be minimized by integrating with spiritual care services. Overall, 87 % of TCAM and 73 % of allopaths agreed to primary criterion variable: 'spiritual healing is beneficial and complementary to psychiatric care.' A quarter of allopaths (24.4 %) and 38 % of TCAM physicians reportedly cross-refer their grieving patients to religious/TCAM healer and psychiatrist/psychologist, respectively; on logistic regression, significant (p < 0.05) predictors were clinical interactions/references to r/s healers. Providing spiritual care within the setup of psychiatric institution will not only complement psychiatric care but also alleviate stigma against mental health services. Implications on developing spiritual care services like clinical chaplaincy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ramakrishnan
- AdiBhat Foundation, R-90, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi, 110048, India,
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