Demonstrating the Viability of Spiritual Care Education: A Pilot Study on Integrating Spirituality and Health into Medical Education.

BACKGROUND

Despite the recognized significance of integrating spiritual care into healthcare, training in spiritual care is often an elective rather than a core component of medical education in the United States, suggesting a gap in the comprehensive training of future healthcare professionals.

METHODS

An elective course was developed to explore the interplay between religion, spirituality, and medicine and was administered over 2 academic semesters. The curriculum included lectures, interactive sessions with religious leaders, and class discussions aimed at enhancing understanding and implementation of spiritual care. Course efficacy was evaluated using pre- and postcourse assessments quantifying student aptitudes and attitudes toward spiritual care. The second semester also included a comparison group that was not enrolled in the course, matched to the enrolled students on the basis of age, gender, and religiosity.

RESULTS

A total of 19 medical students voluntarily participated over 2 semesters. Semester 1 students demonstrated modest nonsignificant increases in attitudes toward spiritual care. Semester 2 students exhibited increased interest, understanding, and perceived ability to provide spiritual care. Furthermore, semester 2 aptitude scores increased from 51% to 78%, demonstrating significantly improved ability to navigate spiritual care case scenarios. While students enrolled in the course had improved postcourse survey scores, the comparison group of students that did not enrol in the course had no change in their pre and postcourse surveys.

CONCLUSIONS

This elective course successfully addressed a gap in medical education by improving student aptitudes and attitudes toward spiritual care. The course model offers a framework for other medical schools aiming to enhance spiritual care training, underscoring the need for medical curricula to prepare well-rounded healthcare professionals capable of providing holistic patient care.