Efficacy of an educational intervention on students' attitudes regarding spirituality in healthcare: a cohort study in the USA.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if an educational intervention focused on the role of spirituality in healthcare positively affects medical students' attitudes and perceptions relating to this topic.

DESIGN

A pre-post cohort study.

SETTING

An undergraduate medical institution affiliated with an academic medical center in the USA.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 110 medical students currently on their clinical rotations received the educational intervention, of whom 71 (65%) completed both the presurvey and postsurvey. Demographic variables did not significantly differ from the national average of medical students, or from a comparison group. All students who attended the intervention were given the opportunity to participate in the survey.

INTERVENTIONS

The educational intervention consisted of a 60-minute lecture focusing on religion/spirituality (R/S) in healthcare, followed by a 90-minute case discussion in a small group setting.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Assessment consisted of 18-item preintervention and postintervention survey quantifying student's attitudes towards, comfort with, and perceptions of R/S in healthcare.

RESULTS

Attitudes towards, comfort with, and perceptions of R/S in healthcare were generally positive preintervention. Following the intervention, students expressed an increased willingness to include R/S competency in their future practice (p=0.001), were more comfortable sharing their own R/S beliefs with a patient when appropriate (p=0.02), and were more willing to approach a patient with R/S concern (p=0.04). The other surveyed attitudes demonstrated positive, but non-significant improvement.

CONCLUSION

An educational intervention focusing on approaching patients with R/S concerns has the ability to improve the attitudes and comfort of medical students. By incorporating a total of 150 minutes of education about R/S, medical schools can help develop this particular area of cultural competence, preparing a generation of physicians to professionally approach R/S concerns of patients. Future research should move beyond quantifying attitudes and strive to understand changes in knowledge and student behaviour.