There is substantial evidence that spiritual well-being is an important determinant of overall health, longevity and quality of life, especially in patients with severe illness. While most physicians would agree that spiritual well-being is an important factor in their patients’ health, the spiritual needs and well-being of patients are largely ignored and rarely addressed by healthcare providers, representing a significant gap in care. Physicians often cite a lack of training or comfort in assessing and/or addressing patients’ spiritual needs, and a lack of research on the safety and efficacy of spiritual interventions as barriers to care.
In this review, we discuss the effects of spiritual well-being on health, and the importance of assessing and addressing patients’ spiritual needs, highlight the need for methodic, rigorous high-quality studies and improved physician education in identifying and addressing patients’ spiritual needs.
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