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Exploring Sacred Moments in Japanese Healthcare
Reiko Sakama1, Kota Sakaguchi2, Martha Quinn3,4
1Department of General Medicine, NTT Medical Center Tokyo, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
"Sacred moments" refer to times when people experience deep mutual connection, accompanied by spiritual emotions. Previous North American studies reveal that such moments can predict overall well-being for patients and clinicians. However, sacred moments have not been studied in Japanese healthcare, where the cultural background differs substantially from previous studies.
Objective:
To examine sacred moments among patients and clinicians in Japan.
Design:
An exploratory qualitative study featuring two facilities: a Tokyo community hospital and a national university hospital in Western Honshu.
Participants:
Hospital-based clinicians and patients.
Approach:
Semi-structured interviews with 30 participants from January to March 2024. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was performed.
Key Results:
Most participants-22 of 26 clinicians (84.6%) and 3 of 4 patients (75.0%)-reported having experienced sacred moments during healthcare visits once the concept had been explained, as most initially expressed unfamiliarity with the term "sacred moments" in either Japanese or English. Twenty of 26 clinicians (76.9%) and 2 of 4 patients (50.0%) highlighted the importance of taking time to build rapport and trust for sacred moments to occur. Twenty-three of 26 clinicians (88.5%) and all 4 patients (100.0%) believed that fostering the mind and spirit was beneficial, while 4 of 26 clinicians (15.4%) and 1 of 4 patients (25.0%) expressed negative views toward religion and spirituality. Qualitative findings were divided into three domains: (1) common elements that characterize sacred moments; (2) discomfort or resistance to religion; (3) elements necessary to foster sacred moments.
Conclusions:
Our exploratory study highlights the important concept of sacred moments in Japan. The high prevalence of reported sacred moments after the concept had been explained underscores the need for a conceptual translation into the Japanese cultural space. Alternative terms may resonate more naturally within non-Western cultural contexts, such as emphases on deep connection and fate.
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