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Religious and Spiritual Beliefs of Physicians

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe religious and spiritual beliefs of physicians and examine their influence on the decision to pursue medicine and daily medical practice. An anonymous survey was e-mailed to physicians at a large, multidisciplinary tertiary referral center with satellite clinics. Data were collected from January 2014 through February 2014. There were 2097 respondents (69.1 % men), and number of practicing years ranged from ≤1 to ≥30. Primary care physicians or medical specialists represented 74.1 %, 23.6 % were in surgical specialties, and 2.3 % were psychiatrists. The majority of physicians believe in God (65.2 %), and 51.2 % reported themselves as religious, 24.8 % spiritual, 12.4 % agnostic, and 11.6 % atheist. This self-designation was largely independent of specialty except for psychiatrists, who were more likely report agnosticism (P = 0.003). In total, 29.0 % reported that religious or spiritual beliefs influenced their decision to become a physician. Frequent prayer was reported by 44.7 % of physicians, but only 20.7 % reported having prayed with patients. Most physicians consider themselves religious or spiritual, but the rates of agnosticism and atheism are higher than the general population. Psychiatrists are the least religious group. Despite the influence of religion on physicians’ lives and medical practice, the majority have not incorporated prayer into patient encounters.

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Funding

For information on data replication for future use, please contact Dr. Kristin Robinson. No funding was obtained for this research. There is no additional analysis noted in the text for which materials would need to be obtained.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA

    Kristin A. Robinson MD

  2. Care Management, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Patrick D. Hansen

  3. Division of General Surgery, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Richard J. Gray MD

  4. Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

    Meng-Ru Cheng MS

Authors
  1. Kristin A. Robinson MD
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  2. Meng-Ru Cheng MS
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  3. Patrick D. Hansen
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  4. Richard J. Gray MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristin A. Robinson MD.

Appendix: Physician Religiosity Survey and Answers

Appendix: Physician Religiosity Survey and Answers

Demographics

  1. 1.

    What is your current age?

    1. a.

      20–30

    2. b.

      31–40

    3. c.

      41–50

    4. d.

      51–60

    5. e.

      61–70

    6. f.

      70+

  2. 2.

    Gender.

    1. a.

      Male

    2. b.

      Female

  3. 3.

    Degrees obtained.

    1. a.

      M.D.

    2. b.

      D.O.

    3. c.

      M.B.B.S.

    4. d.

      Ph.D.

    5. e.

      M.S.

  4. 4.

    How many years have you been in practice (including residency/fellowship)?

    1. a.

      0–5

    2. b.

      6–10

    3. c.

      11–20

    4. d.

      21–30

    5. e.

      >30

  5. 5.

    What is your speciality? (choose all that apply)

    1. a.

      Medicine

    2. b.

      Surgery

    3. c.

      Obstetrics and gynecology

    4. d.

      Psychiatry

    5. e.

      Pediatrics

    6. f.

      Emergency medicine

    7. g.

      Anesthesiology

    8. h.

      Neurology

    9. i.

      Physical medicine and rehabilitation

    10. j.

      Palliative medicine

    11. k.

      Radiology

    12. l.

      Radiation oncology

    13. m.

      Other (please specify)

  6. 6.

    What is your subspecialty? (choose all that apply)

    1. a.

      Family medicine

    2. b.

      Internal medicine

    3. c.

      Sports medicine

    4. d.

      Cardiology

    5. e.

      Pulmonology

    6. f.

      Gastroenterology

    7. g.

      Nephrology

    8. h.

      Infectious disease

    9. i.

      Endocrinology

    10. j.

      Hematology/oncology

    11. k.

      Dermatology

    12. l.

      Interventional radiology

    13. m.

      Trauma/critical care

    14. n.

      General surgery

    15. o.

      Vascular surgery

    16. p.

      Cardiothoracic surgery

    17. q.

      Pediatric surgery

    18. r.

      Transplant surgery

    19. s.

      Plastic surgery

    20. t.

      Neurosurgery

    21. u.

      Orthopedic surgery

    22. v.

      Otolaryngology

    23. w.

      Urology

    24. x.

      Other (please specify)

General beliefs

  1. 7.

    How important would you say religion is in your life?

    1. a.

      Very important

    2. b.

      Fairly important

    3. c.

      Not very important

    4. d.

      Not important at all

    5. e.

      No opinion

  2. 8.

    Is religion an important part of your DAILY life?

    1. a.

      Very important

    2. b.

      Fairly important

    3. c.

      Not very important

    4. d.

      Not important at all

    5. e.

      No opinion

  3. 9.

    Are you a member of a religious organization (church, synagogue, etc.)?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  4. 10.

    Do you believe in heaven?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

    3. c.

      Undecided

  5. 11.

    Do you believe in hell?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

    3. c.

      Undecided

  6. 12.

    Which of the following statements comes closest to your belief about God?

    1. a.

      You believe in God

    2. b.

      You don’t believe in God, but you do believe in a universal spirit or higher power

    3. c.

      You don’t believe in either

  7. 13.

    Which do you consider yourself?

    1. a.

      Religious—relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity: believing in a god or a group of gods and following the rules of a religion

    2. b.

      Spiritual—belief that a divine entity or purpose exists, apart from organized religious institutions: “spiritual but not religious”

    3. c.

      Agnostic—neither believes nor disbelieves in the existence of a deity or deities

    4. d.

      Atheist—disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods

Religious: (respondents who answered “A” to question 13)

  1. 14.

    With what religion do you affiliate?

    1. a.

      Christianity

    2. b.

      Islam

    3. c.

      Hinduism

    4. d.

      Buddhism

    5. e.

      Taoism/Confucianism

    6. f.

      Judaism

    7. g.

      Shinto

    8. h.

      Sikhism

    9. i.

      Other (please specify)

  2. 15.

    How many times per month do you attend organized religious practices such as church, study groups, volunteer events?

    1. a.

      0

    2. b.

      1–3

    3. c.

      4–6

    4. d.

      >6

  3. 16.

    How often do you attend the above with family?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Sometimes

    3. c.

      Rarely

    4. d.

      Never

    5. e.

      N/A

  4. 17.

    How often do you pray?

    1. a.

      Multiple times per day

    2. b.

      Daily

    3. c.

      Weekly

    4. d.

      Monthly

    5. e.

      Rarely

    6. f.

      Never

  5. 18.

    Did religion influence your decision to become a physician?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  6. 19.

    Did religion influence your decision to choose your specialty?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  7. 20.

    How often do you feel religion or your relationship with God influences your daily medical practice?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

  8. 21.

    Do you believe God actively intervenes in the natural processes of the world?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

    6. f.

      Undecided

  9. 22.

    Do you believe prayer by your patients themselves can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  10. 23.

    Do you believe prayer by others on behalf of your patients can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  11. 24.

    Have you prayed with your patients?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

  12. 25.

    If you have not prayed with your patients, why not? (choose all that apply)

    1. a.

      Lack of time

    2. b.

      No opportunity

    3. c.

      Concerned about offending patients

    4. d.

      Consider prayer unprofessional

    5. e.

      Concerned about employer/colleague reactions

    6. f.

      N/A—I have prayed with patients

    7. g.

      Other (please specify)

  13. 26.

    Which of the following most closely represents your view of the origins of human life?

    1. a.

      God created mankind from nothing

    2. b.

      God created mankind through directed evolutionary processes

    3. c.

      God created the universe and mankind evolved through undirected natural evolutionary processes

    4. d.

      The universe and mankind were not created by God or a higher power

Spiritual: (respondents who answered “B” for question 13)

  1. 27.

    Do you believe in a higher power than the human race?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  2. 28.

    Do you believe in a divine plan?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  3. 29.

    At any time in your past have you considered yourself religious?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  4. 30.

    How often do you pray?

    1. a.

      Multiple times per day

    2. b.

      Daily

    3. c.

      Weekly

    4. d.

      Monthly

    5. e.

      Rarely

    6. f.

      Never

  5. 31.

    Did your spirituality influence your decision to become a physician?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  6. 32.

    Did your spirituality influence your decision to choose your specialty?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  7. 33.

    How often do you feel spirituality influences your daily medical practice?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

  8. 34.

    Do you believe God/higher power actively intervenes in the natural processes of the world?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

  9. 35.

    Do you believe prayer by your patients themselves can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  10. 36.

    Do you believe prayer by others on behalf of your patients can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  11. 37.

    Have you prayed with your patients?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  12. 38.

    If you have not prayed with your patients, why not? (choose all that apply)

    1. a.

      Lack of time

    2. b.

      No opportunity

    3. c.

      Concerned about offending patients

    4. d.

      Consider prayer unprofessional

    5. e.

      Concerned about employer/colleague reactions

    6. f.

      N/A—I have prayed with patients

    7. g.

      Other (please specify)

  13. 39.

    Which of the following most closely represents your view of the origins of human life?

    1. a.

      God/higher power created mankind from nothing

    2. b.

      God/higher power created mankind through directed evolutionary processes

    3. c.

      God/higher power created the universe and mankind evolved through undirected, natural evolutionary processes

    4. d.

      The universe and mankind were not created by God or a higher power

Agnostic: (respondents who answered “C” to question 13)

  1. 40.

    At any time in your past have you considered yourself religious?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  2. 41.

    At any time in your past have you considered yourself spiritual?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  3. 42.

    How often do you pray?

    1. a.

      Multiple times per day

    2. b.

      Daily

    3. c.

      Weekly

    4. d.

      Monthly

    5. e.

      Rarely

    6. f.

      Never

  4. 43.

    Did religion influence your decision to become a physician?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  5. 44.

    Did religion influence your decision to choose your specialty?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  6. 45.

    Did spirituality influence your decision to become a physician?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  7. 46.

    Did spirituality influence your decision to choose your specialty?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  8. 47.

    Do you believe God/higher power actively intervenes in the natural processes of the world?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

  9. 48.

    Do you believe prayer by your patients themselves can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  10. 49.

    Do you believe prayer by others on behalf of your patients can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  11. 50.

    Have you prayed with your patients?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

  12. 51.

    If you have not prayed with your patients, why not? (choose all that apply)

    1. a.

      Lack of time

    2. b.

      No opportunity

    3. c.

      Concerned about offending patients

    4. d.

      Consider prayer unprofessional

    5. e.

      Concerned about employer/colleague reactions

    6. f.

      N/A—I have prayed with patients

    7. g.

      Other (please specify)

  13. 52.

    Which of the following most closely represents your view of the origins of human life?

    1. a.

      God/higher power created mankind from nothing

    2. b.

      God/higher power created mankind through directed evolutionary processes

    3. c.

      God/higher power created the universe and mankind evolved through undirected, natural evolutionary processes

    4. d.

      The universe and mankind were not created by God or a higher power

Atheist: (respondents who answered “D” for question 13)

  1. 53.

    At any time in your past have you considered yourself religious?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  2. 54.

    At any time in your past have you considered yourself spiritual?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  3. 55.

    Did religion influence your decision to become a physician?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  4. 56.

    Did religion influence your decision to choose your specialty?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  5. 57.

    Did spirituality influence your decision to become a physician?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  6. 58.

    Did spirituality influence your decision to choose your specialty?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  7. 59.

    Do you believe prayer by your patients themselves can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  8. 60.

    Do you believe prayer by others on behalf of your patients can alter the course of their disease process?

    1. a.

      Yes

    2. b.

      No

  9. 61.

    Have you prayed with your patients?

    1. a.

      Always

    2. b.

      Often

    3. c.

      Sometimes

    4. d.

      Rarely

    5. e.

      Never

  10. 62.

    If you have not prayed with your patients, why not? (choose all that apply)

    1. a.

      Lack of time

    2. b.

      No opportunity

    3. c.

      Concerned about offending patients

    4. d.

      Consider prayer unprofessional

    5. e.

      Concerned about employer/colleague reactions

    6. f.

      N/A—I have prayed with patients

    7. g.

      Other (please specify)

  11. 63.

    Which of the following most closely represents your view of the origins of human life?

    1. a.

      God/higher power created mankind from nothing

    2. b.

      God/higher power created mankind through directed evolutionary processes

    3. c.

      God/higher power created the universe and mankind evolved through undirected, natural evolutionary processes

    4. d.

      The universe and mankind were not created by God or a higher power

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Robinson, K.A., Cheng, MR., Hansen, P.D. et al. Religious and Spiritual Beliefs of Physicians. J Relig Health 56, 205–225 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0233-8

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