Religious Concepts

DIZON, Jann Carlo

PANGANGAAN, Nymar
RAMIREZ, Pamela Bridget
RELIGION

Religion affects the way in which people present symptoms to the doctor
and the types of treatment they will accept.
Because some religions place restrictions on certain behaviours, religious
beliefs may also influence a person's risk of illness in the first place
Physicians should be aware of areas in which the religion of their patient
may strongly influence their response to medical advice.
Of course, all religions hold the sanctity of life as a central tenet, but they
vary in how this is interpreted when difficult issues (abortion, end-of-life
care, transplant surgery, etc.) arise.
RELIGION may provide the following
psychologic benefits:

A positive and hopeful attitude about life and illness, which predicts improved
health outcomes and lower mortality rates
A sense of meaning and purpose in life, which affects health behaviors and
social and family relationships
A greater ability to cope with illness and disability
 Many elderly people report that religion is the most important factor enabling them to cope
with physical health problems and life stresses.
In one study, > 90% of elderly patients relied on religion, at least to a moderate degree, when
coping with health problems and difficult social circumstances.
For example, having a hopeful, positive attitude about the future helps people with physical
problems remain motivated to recover.
People who use religious coping mechanisms are less likely to develop depression and
anxiety than those who do not; this inverse association is strongest among people with
greater physical disability.
Religious people also tend to recover from depression more quickly.
HOPE acronym to explore a patient's
spirituality
H: Sources of hope, meaning, comfort, strength, peace.
"What are your sources of hope, strength, comfort and peace?
"What do you hold on to during difficult times?
O: Organized religion.
Do you consider yourself part of an organized religion?
"How important is this to you?"
"Are you part of a religious or spiritual community? Does it help you? How?
P: Personal spirituality
"Do you have any personal spiritual beliefs that are independent of organized religion?
"Do you believe in God?
"What aspects of your spirituality or spiritual practices do you find most helpful to you?
E: Effects on medical care and End of life issues
"Has being sick affected your ability to do the things that usually help you spiritually?
"Would it be helpful for you to speak to a chaplain or spiritual leader?
"Are there any specific practices or restrictions that I should know about in providing your
medical care?"

(Source: G. Anandarajah & E. Hight. Am Family Physician 2001; 63(1): 81-88)

 Religious beliefs salient for morbidity and mortality that are observed in the population.

Ex. Adherents to some religious denominations that prescribe particular lifestyles may
demonstrate characteristic mortality and morbidity profiles.

Religiosity itself is believed to have health impacts.

 Several hundred epidemiologic studies reporting statistically significant associations
between religious indicators and morbidity& mortality.

For some patients who are confronting chronic disease religion and spirituality may
improve quality of their lives.
 For example, Seventh-day Adventist church:
Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (-) meat, poultry, and fish with no restriction to egg and dairy
products.
Abstain to tobacco, alcohol and pork products.

Low rates of CHD that corresponds with the this kind of lifestyle (+) health benefits
Mean systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower than those of comparison
population.
 Religious composition

Some health outcomes are common in one racial or ethnic group than in another.
 Religious composition

A community may demonstrate characteristic health patterns associated with members

of a religious denomination if that group has settled in community.
 Religious composition

Adherents of some religious denominations may adopt lifestyle and dietary practices that
may affect the community health profile.