Association between religiosity/spirituality and substance use among homeless individuals.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol and illicit drug use are prevalent among homeless people. Religiosity and spirituality (RS) have been widely associated with lower consumption of substances. However, evidence of this relationship among homeless people is still scarce. AIMS: To evaluate the associations between RS and alcohol and illicit drug consumption among homeless people in a large Brazilian urban center. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was carried out in São Paulo city, Brazil. Aspects such as spirituality (FACIT-Sp12), religiosity (DUREL), spiritual-religious coping (Brief-RCOPE), and self-report questions concerning the current substance use (alcohol and illicit substances) were evaluated. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of RS beliefs on alcohol and illicit drug consumption. RESULTS: A total of 456 homeless people were included, of an average age of 44.5 (SD = 12.6) years. More than half of the participants consumed alcohol (55.7%) weekly and 34.2% used illicit drugs weekly. Adjusted logistic regression models identified that aspects of RS were associated with lower likelihood factors for alcohol and illicit drug use; conversely, negative spiritual religious coping (SRC) strategies were associated with a higher likelihood to use both. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use among participants was high. RS and positive SRC were important protective factors for lower consumption of these substances. Conversely, negative SRC strategies were associated with risk factors.

The effectiveness of spiritual care training on medical students' self-reported competencies: A quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual care training on medical students' self-reported competencies. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental (controlled and non-randomized) study including 115 Brazilian medical students. Participants were enrolled into 2 groups: fourth-year students (n = 64) who received spiritual care training and sixth-year students (n = 51) who did not receive this training - control group (i.e., usual teaching). Participants answered a self-reported Spiritual Care Competence Scale. Comparisons between groups were performed and effect sizes were reported. RESULTS: Providing a spiritual care training resulted in significantly higher self-reported scores for the dimensions of "Assessment" (d = 0.99), "Improvement of care" (d = 0.69), "Counseling (d = 0.88)," "Referral" (d = 0.75), and "Total Spiritual Care" (d = 1.044) as compared to the control group. Likewise, 21 out of 27 items of the Spiritual Care Competence Scale were significantly higher for the intervention group, presenting effect sizes (d) ranging between 0.428 and 1.032. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Medical students receiving spiritual care training showed greater self-reported competencies as compared to those in the usual teaching. These results reinforce the importance of promoting spirituality teaching in medical schools.

The role of religiosity and spirituality in interpersonal violence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) have been negatively associated with several mental health problems, including delinquency. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between R/S and interpersonal violence using a systematic review. Methods: We conducted a descriptive systematic review followed by meta-analyses using seven different databases. We included observational studies that assessed the relationship between R/S and different types of interpersonal violence (physical and sexual aggression and domestic violence). Results: A total of 16,599 articles were screened in the databases and, after applying the eligibility criteria, 67 were included in the systematic review and 43 were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that higher levels of R/S were significantly associated with decreased physical and sexual aggression, but not domestic violence. All selected studies evidenced sufficient methodological quality, with 26.8% being cohort studies. In the subanalyses, the role of R/S was more prevalent among adolescents. Conclusion: There is an inverse relationship between R/S and physical and sexual aggression, suggesting a protective role. However, these results were not observed for domestic violence. Healthcare professionals and managers should be aware of their patients' beliefs when investigating interpersonal violence to create tailored interventions for reducing violent behavior.

The current status of "spirituality and health" teaching in Brazilian medical schools: a nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: Recent data on the teaching of "spirituality and health" (S/H) in medical schools are needed. In this study, we aimed to investigate the current status of S/H teaching in Brazilian medical schools, the opinions of medical directors/deans on this topic and the factors associated with its incorporation into the curriculum. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2021. Information concerning the S/H content in the curricula of medical schools was obtained through medical school representatives and other sources. Medical school representatives were asked about their opinions of and barriers to S/H teaching. Regression models were used to evaluate the factors associated with the incorporation of such content into the curriculum. RESULTS: Information on the incorporation of S/H content in medical curricula was retrieved from different sources for all 342 (100%) Brazilian medical schools. Among the representatives, 150 (43.9%) completed the online form. An increase in the S/H content in Brazilian medical schools was observed (from 40% to 2011 to 65.5% in 2021). Most medical school representatives agreed that this issue is important in medical training and that more space in the curriculum is needed. However, they also observed several barriers, such as a lack of knowledge of medical teachers/faculty, a lack of time, and the topic not being included in teaching plans. The most important factors that influenced the incorporation of S/H teaching in medical schools and representatives' opinions were a lack of time and knowledge, professor preparedness and standardized national competency requirements. CONCLUSION: These results could help medical educators rethink the incorporation of S/H content into their curricula.

Relationship Between Religion/Spirituality and the Aggressiveness of Cancer Care: A Scoping Review.

CONTEXT: Religiosity/spirituality/religious-spiritual coping (RS) are resources used by cancer patients with cancer to help cope with the disease and may influence the preference and receipt of end-of-life (EOL) treatment. OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between RS and the EOL care preferred or received by cancer patients. METHODS: This review protocol is registered on (International Prospective Register of Systematic Review, CRD42021251833) and follows the recommendations of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses checklist. Embase, Proquest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were consulted. Google Scholar was consulted for additional publications and gray literature. Quantitative studies including adults with any cancer type/stage were eligible. The paper selection was performed by two independent reviewers; the methodological quality was measured using the Newcastle Ottawa scale. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included in the review. In general, RS is related to the preference or receipt of aggressive EOL care and with less advance care planning. Spiritual care by the medical team is related to higher referral to hospice and less aggressive care; in contrast, high spiritual support from religious communities is associated with less hospice and more aggressive care. Religious denominations influenced health care preferences, as Catholics were less likely to sign a do-not-resuscitate order and Buddhists or Taoists received more aggressive interventions at the EOL. Most studies (70%) were of high quality according to the Newcastle Ottawa scale. CONCLUSION: RS is associated with more aggressive EOL treatments, as well as with lower rates of ACP in cancer patients. On the other hand, spiritual care provided by the medical team seems to be associated with less aggressive EOL care.

The use of complementary and traditional medicine for the treatment of patients with COVID-19: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use and effectiveness of non-pharmacological therapies as part of the treatment of COVID-19 and its complications, either combined or not with the usual treatment. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted between August and October 2021 using PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science databases. From a total of 204 articles identified, 33 were included in the final sample (15 clinical trials and 18 quasi-experimental studies). The methodological evaluation was carried out using STROBE and CONSORT guidelines. RESULTS: There is a growing literature on the use of CAM for COVID-19. Most studies have shown positive findings, particularly for the use of TCM, other herbal therapies and acupuncture. Nevertheless, most studies were carried out in Asia and relied on quasi-experimental designs. The current evidence is available for physical outcomes (mortality rate, pneumonia resolution and other symptoms, negative PCR test, and hospitalization and ICU admissions) and for mental health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Despite a positive role of CAM on COVID-19 outcomes, the evidence is still mostly based on quasi-experimental studies. More robust clinical trials are needed in order to generate better evidence in this area.

The role of spirituality and religiosity on the suicidal ideation of medical students.

BACKGROUND: There is solid evidence that spirituality and religiousness may reduce the suicidal ideation of individuals. However, studies are scarce on medical students. AIMS: To investigate the relationship between spirituality, religiousness, and suicidal ideation among Brazilian medical students. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including Brazilian medical students. Sociodemographic and health variables, suicidal ideation (item 9 of the Beck Depression Inventory - BDI), spiritual and religious Coping (Brief SRC), religiousness (Duke Religion Index), spiritual well-being - Meaning, Peace and Faith (FACIT SP-12), and depressive (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 353 medical students were included, 62.0% presented significant depressive symptoms, 44.2% presented significant anxiety symptoms, and 14.2% presented suicidal ideation. In the adjusted Logistic Regression models, meaning (OR = 0.90, p = .035) and faith (OR = 0.91, p = .042) were associated with lower suicidal ideation, while negative spiritual and religious coping was associated with greater suicidal ideation (OR = 1.08; p = .006). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of suicidal ideation among Brazilian medical students. Spirituality and religiousness were associated with suicidal ideation in two different directions. These findings could help educators and health professionals to understand suicidal ideation among medical students, helping in the development of preventive strategies to mitigate such problem.

The role of religiosity and spirituality in interpersonal violence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) have been negatively associated with several mental health problems, including delinquency. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between R/S and interpersonal violence using a systematic review. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive systematic review followed by meta-analyses using seven different databases. We included observational studies that assessed the relationship between R/S and different types of interpersonal violence (physical and sexual aggression and domestic violence). RESULTS: A total of 16,599 articles were screened in the databases and, after applying the eligibility criteria, 67 were included in the systematic review and 43 were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that higher levels of R/S were significantly associated with decreased physical and sexual aggression, but not domestic violence. All selected studies evidenced sufficient methodological quality, with 26.8% being cohort studies. In the subanalyses, the role of R/S was more prevalent among adolescents. CONCLUSION: There is an inverse relationship between R/S and physical and sexual aggression, suggesting a protective role. However, these results were not observed for domestic violence. Healthcare professionals and managers should be aware of their patients' beliefs when investigating interpersonal violence to create tailored interventions for reducing violent behavior.

The role of spirituality and religiosity on the cognitive decline of community-dwelling older adults: a 4-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess whether having religious beliefs, attending religious services and using spiritual-religious coping (SRC) are longitudinally associated with cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: A 4-year longitudinal study of 261 Brazilian older adults was conducted. Hierarchical adjusted linear regression models and logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the longitudinal effects of religious beliefs, church attendance and positive and negative SRC on cognitive decline. RESULTS: The findings revealed that spiritual and religious beliefs at baseline could affect cognitive function in two different ways. When older adults use religiosity and spirituality (RS) in a functional positive manner, it results in better cognitive outcomes and a slower rate of decline. However, when used in a negative manner, it results in worse cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSION: These results could help health care professionals address SRC among older adults, particularly those at a higher risk of cognitive decline. Considering that RS is very important for older adults, health care professionals should be aware of the beliefs of their patients and address RS in clinical practice.

Comparison of the Role of Different Levels of Religiousness and Spirituality in Controversial Ethical Issues and Clinical Practice among Brazilian Resident Physicians: Results from the Multicenter SBRAMER Study.

This study compares clinical practice and objections to controversial ethical issues among 836 Brazilian resident physicians according to levels of religiousness/spirituality. Residents with low religiousness/spirituality (s/r) believed less in the influence of spirituality on clinical practice, were less comfortable addressing this issue, tended to listen less carefully and try to change the subject more than other groups. Residents with high spirituality and low religiousness (S/r) inquired more about religious/spiritual issues, while those with high religiousness/spirituality (S/R) were more supportive and reported fewer barriers to addressing these issues. Concerning ethical issues (e.g., physician-assisted suicide, withdrawal of life support, abortion), S/R had more objections than others.

Effects of mental practice on mobility of individuals in the early subacute post-stroke phase: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Only a small number of clinical trials were designed to investigate Mental Practice (MP)'s use for gait rehabilitation in individuals in the early subacute post-stroke phase. This trial aims to investigate the effect of mental practice on mobility rehabilitation in the early subacute phase after a stroke in comparison to a control group. METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trial with 16 individuals diagnosed with a stroke between 50 and 80 years of age. Mobility was evaluated using Timed Up and Go and the Five-Minute Walk Test. In addition, lower extremity muscular strength, Timed Up and Go Assessment of Biomechanical Strategies, quality of life, and depression were evaluated. RESULTS: Before and after intervention (within-subjects), mental practice group showed improved mobility in Timed Up and Go (p = 0.01,r = 0.59), muscular strength for bending the right hip (p = 0.04, r = 0.50), for right knee bending (p = 0.03,r = 0.53), and in biomechanical performance of Timed Up and Go Assessment of Biomechanical Strategies(p = 0.01,r = 0.63). Control group showed improvement in neither mobility nor in muscular strength after intervention. Comparing the scores between the groups after intervention (between-subjects), no differences were found for any of the study's outcomes. In the analysis of deltas (gains), it was observed that mental practice group volunteers had a reduction in Timed Up and Go (p = 0.27,r = 0.29) and an increase in total Timed Up and Go Assessment of Biomechanical Strategies scores (p = 0.14,r = 0.36). CONCLUSION: Mental Practice was not associated with mobility, muscular strength, mental health, and quality of life improvement for patients in the early subacute post-stroke phase as compared to a control group.

The efficacy of religious and spiritual interventions in nursing care to promote mental, physical and spiritual health: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Spiritual interventions have proved to alleviate suffering, help the patient to prepare for end of life issues, improve quality of life, and well-being. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of religious and spiritual interventions in nursing care to promote mental, physical and spiritual health as compared to control groups not receiving such care. METHODS: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials from SCOPUS, PUBMED, Web of Science and CINAHL databases. The searches were carried out between May and July 2020 without restrictions concerning the date of publication. Peer-reviewed articles published in English, Portuguese or Spanish, focusing on nurses were included. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. In addition, the CONSORT and The Cochrane Collaborations tool for assessing risk of bias were followed. RESULTS: The search process identified 1308 publications, 18 randomized controlled trials were included for the systematic review and 9 for the meta-analysis. The meta-analyses revealed that spiritual interventions were associated with lower mental health symptoms (SMD = -6.91 [-9.83,-3.98], p < 0.001, I2 = 99 %), greater well-being (SMD = 1.26 [0.58, 1.93], p < 0.001, I2 = 94 %) and higher levels of spirituality (SMD = 0.48 [0.29, 0.67], p < 0.001, I2 = 31 %) as compared to individuals in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Spiritual interventions seem to be effective to promote health, as seen for mental health, spirituality, well-being and physical outcomes. Nevertheless, more than half of the studies have a high risk of bias in any of the dimensions evaluated and there is an important heterogeneity among interventions and outcomes. This is particularly important to nurses and nurse managers who want to provide a holistic care to their patients.

The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity in Healthcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Review of the Scientific Literature.

The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been affecting populations globally since the end of 2019. Previous studies have indicated that spirituality in these times of crisis serves as a source of hope and well-being that helps people get through the day. This study investigated the role of spirituality and religiosity in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. An integrative review of the scientific literature available on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and a review of the gray literature in the Information System on Gray Literature in Europe (OpenGrey) were carried out. From a total of 1,338 articles searched; 25 articles were included in this review (22 quantitative observational, 2 qualitative and one randomized controlled trial). Our findings revealed the importance of including spirituality in clinical practice for both health professionals and patients. On the one hand, spirituality can be considered a good coping strategy used by healthcare professionals to promote mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting in greater patient satisfaction with the care given. On the other hand, addressing spiritual needs of individuals leads to a reduction in stress, anxiety, depression, and an increase in resilience and hope among patients.

Burnout and spirituality among nurses: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between spirituality / religiousness and Burnout Syndrome in nurses, as well as to examine the current evidence for spiritual/religious interventions to alleviate their symptoms. DATA SOURCES: A scoping review was conducted using CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Pubmed databases, and grey literature, between January and July 2020. STUDY SELECTION: Two researchers performed the searches with a 95% agreement rate for the inclusion and exclusion of the studies. Both quantitative and qualitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals, using Spanish, Portuguese or English language were included. Restriction on publication date was not applied. DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 1143 articles were identified and 18 were included in the final analysis. Quality assessment was performed, following CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA and COREQ guidelines. Finally, the following data were extracted: authors, year, country, study design and sample characteristics, purpose of the study, and major findings. DATA SYNTHESIS: The results of the present review show that spirituality / religiousness is a common strategy used by nurses when coping with stress and burnout. Most studies reveal that spiritual and religious beliefs are correlated with lower levels of burnout, exhaustion and depersonalization in different settings. Nevertheless, two studies have not found any relationship and one study has found worse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of experimental studies trying to examine if spiritual interventions could modify burnout levels in clinical practice. Health managers should be aware of the spirituality / religiousness of their nurses and provide the appropriate spiritual support.

The NERSH Questionnaire and Pool of Data from 12 Countries: Development and Description.

Modern healthcare research has only in recent years investigated the impact of health care workers' religious and other values on medical practice, interaction with patients, and ethically complex decision making. So far, only limited international data exist on the way such values vary across different countries. We therefore established the NERSH International Collaboration on Values in Medicine with datasets on physician religious characteristics and values based on the same questionnaire. The present article provides (a) an overview of the development of the original and optimized questionnaire, (b) an overview of the content of the NERSH data pool at this stage and (c) a brief review of insights gained from articles published with the questionnaire. The pool at this stage consists of data from 17 studies from research units in 12 different countries representing six continents with responses from more than 6000 health professionals. The joint data pool suggests that there are large differences in religious and other moral values across nations and cultures, and that these values contribute to the observed differences in health professionals' clinical practices-across nations and cultures!

The Use of Spiritual and Religious Interventions for the Treatment for Insomnia: A Scoping Review.

Insomnia is a common problem, affecting individuals' health and quality of life. Among several therapies used to treat this condition, spiritual interventions are suggested to have beneficial outcomes on sleep disturbances. Nevertheless, a systematic compilation of the evidence available is still needed in the literature in order to scientifically investigate the topic. To examine the most common spiritual interventions proposed to treat sleep disorders and to assess the scientific evidence of these interventions. This is a scoping literature review conducted by independent researchers on the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and OpenGrey. A boolean expression was used, and all studies published in the last 5 years investigating the role of spiritual or religious interventions on insomnia were included. From a total of 3257 articles retrieved in our search, ten studies were included in the final analysis. There is a wide array of techniques used to treat insomnia or the mental disorders associated with insomnia, such as mantra, yoga, mindfulness, praying/meditation, daily spiritual experiences, psycho-religious training and intervention. The included studies showed a positive influence of spiritual/religious interventions on insomnia directly and indirectly. However, there is a scarcity of clinical trials and most studies have small sample sizes and used only subjective measures, resulting in a low evidence. The results of the present review point to a promising role of spirituality and religion on better sleep outcomes, particularly in the improvement in insomnia. However, the heterogeneity and the quality of these studies suggest caution while interpreting these findings. More clinical trials are needed in this area to provide a recommendation of these methods in clinical practice.

Spiritual care in critically ill patients during COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Spiritual care has a positive influence when patients are subjected to serious illnesses, and critically ill situations such as the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of nurses working at critical care units and emergency services in Spain concerning the spiritual care providing to patients and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A qualitative investigation was carried out using in-depth interviews with 19 ICU nursing professionals. FINDINGS: During the pandemic, nurses provided spiritual care for their patients. Although they believed that spirituality was important to help patients to cope with the disease, they do not had a consensual definition of spirituality. Work overload, insufficient time and lack of training were perceived as barriers for providing spiritual healthcare. DISCUSSION: These results support the role of spirituality in moments of crisis and should be considered by health professionals working in critical care settings.

The influence of spirituality and religion on critical care nursing: An integrative review.

BACKGROUND: Spiritual care could help family members and critically ill patients to cope with anxiety, stress and depression. However, health care professionals are poorly prepared and health managers are not allocating all the resources needed. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To critically review the empirical evidence concerning the influence of spirituality and religion (S-R) on critical care nursing. METHODS: An integrative review of the literature published in the last 10 years (2010-2019) was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINHAL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane and LILACS. In addition, searches were performed in the System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe and the Grey Literature Report. Quantitative and/or qualitative studies, assessing S-R and including health care professionals caring for critically ill patients (i.e. adults or children), were included. RESULTS: Forty articles were included in the final analysis (20 qualitative, 19 quantitative and 1 with a mixed methodology). The studies embraced the following themes: S-R importance and the use of coping among critical care patients and families; spiritual needs of patients and families; health care professionals' awareness of spiritual needs; ways to address spiritual care in the intensive care unit (ICU); definition of S-R by health care professionals; perceptions and barriers of addressing spiritual needs; and influence of S-R on health care professionals' outcomes and decisions. Our results indicate that patients and their families use S-R coping strategies to alleviate stressful situations in the ICU and that respecting patients' spiritual beliefs is an essential component of critical care. Although nurses consider spiritual care to be very important, they do not feel prepared to address S-R and report lack of time as the main barrier. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Critical care professionals should be aware about the needs of their patients and should be trained to handle S-R in clinical practice. Nurses are encouraged to increase their knowledge and awareness towards spiritual issues.

Corpus callosum size, hypnotic susceptibility and empathy in women with alleged mediumship: a controlled study.

AIM: Evidence indicates that highly hypnotizable subjects may have larger area of the rostrum of the corpus callosum (CC). Mediumship can be defined as the alleged ability to communicate regularly with deceased personalities, and self-hypnosis is postulated as an underlying mechanism for this ability. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the CC area, hypnotic susceptibility, self-reported dissociation, and empathy in alleged mediums in comparison with healthy, non-medium controls. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 16 Spiritist mediums (medium group (MG)) and 16 non-medium controls. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed to measure the CC areas (total and subdivisions). The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility was used to assess hypnotizability, and self-reported measures were used to investigate anomalous experiences, mental health using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-SRQ, dissociative experiences using the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and empathy using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. RESULTS: No between-group differences were found in the total or subdivided CC areas or in hypnotizability, with both groups showing intermediate levels. The rostrum of the CC area and hypnotizability were not correlated. The MG presented with significantly more anomalous experiences, but the two groups had similar scores for dissociation, empathy, and mental health. CONCLUSION: The normal CC areas found in the MG are in contrast with the abnormal results typically observed in subjects with psychotic and dissociative disorders. Although hypnotizability was not different between groups, further studies are needed to replicate these findings in other samples.

Is there a relationship between spirituality/religiosity and resilience? A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Resilience is the ability to recover or cope with adverse situations. Spiritual and religious beliefs may be associated with important "resilience resources." To investigate whether there is a relationship between spirituality/religiosity (S/R) and resilience. This is a systematic review (observational studies) with meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines. From a total of 2468 articles, 34 observational studies were included. We identified a moderate positive correlation between S/R and resilience (r = 0.40 (95% CI, 0.32-0.48], p < 0.01). When only high-quality articles were included, the results were maintained. Conclusion: A moderate positive correlation was found between S/R and resilience.