Assessing Perception of Patients and Physicians Regarding Spirituality in Karachi, Pakistan: A Pilot Study

Spirituality plays an important part in coping with life problems, health concerns, and well-being issues at individual and collective levels. In Pakistan, few studies have looked at the role of religion in patients' illnesses.

To assess patients' and health care professionals' beliefs concerning spirituality and illness to understand the role of spirituality and religion in clinics.

A total of 52 patients and 50 health care professionals from different specialties were interviewed. A self-devised tool was used to gain information from patients. For health care professionals a 17-item questionnaire was used.

The study results show that most patients view spirituality positively and want their physicians to discuss spirituality with them. Most patients believed that having a strong belief in spirituality helped them cope with their condition better. Most health care professionals surveyed believed that spirituality plays an important part in a patient's illness and its prognosis, but only a minority asked patients about spirituality. Most health care professionals quoted lack of time as one of the main reasons for not discussing spirituality with patients, and some believed it was a private matter.

Many health care professionals are hesitant to discuss spiritual issues with patients because of lack of time, insufficient training, or their own discomfort. There is a need to incorporate training about spirituality in the medical curriculum, especially in religious societies such as in Pakistan. Further research is needed in this area.