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Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lucchetti, G; Lucchetti, ALG; Espinha, DCM; de Oliveira, LR; Leite, JR; Koenig, HG
Published in: BMC Med Educ
August 18, 2012

BACKGROUND: According to recent surveys, 59% of British medical schools and 90% of US medical schools have courses or content on spirituality and health (S/H). There is little research, however, on the teaching of S/H in medical schools in other countries, such as those in Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa. The present study seeks to investigate the current status of teaching on S/H in Brazilian medical schools. METHODS: All medical schools in Brazil (private and public) were selected for evaluation, were contacted by email and phone, and were administered a questionnaire. The questionnaire, sent by e-mail, asked medical school directors/deans about any S/H courses that were taught, details about those courses, S/H lectures or seminars, importance of teaching this subject for medical school directors, and medical schools characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 86 out of 180 (47.7%) medical schools responded. Results indicated that 10.4% of Brazilian Medical Schools have a dedicated S/H courses and 40.5% have courses or content on spirituality and health. Only two medical schools have S/H courses that involve hands-on training and three schools have S/H courses that teach how to conduct a spiritual history. The majority of medical directors (54%) believe that S/H is important to teach in their schools. CONCLUSION: Few Brazilian medical schools have courses dealing specifically with S/H and less than half provide some form of teaching on the subject. Unfortunately, there is no standard curriculum on S/H. Nevertheless, the majority of medical directors believe this issue is an important subject that should be taught.

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Published In

BMC Med Educ

DOI

EISSN

1472-6920

Publication Date

August 18, 2012

Volume

12

Start / End Page

78

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Students, Medical
  • Spirituality
  • Schools, Medical
  • Religion and Medicine
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Physician Executives
  • Medical Informatics
  • Humans
  • Health
 

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Lucchetti, G., Lucchetti, A. L. G., Espinha, D. C. M., de Oliveira, L. R., Leite, J. R., & Koenig, H. G. (2012). Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil. BMC Med Educ, 12, 78. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-12-78
Lucchetti, Giancarlo, Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti, Daniele Corcioli Mendes Espinha, Leandro Romani de Oliveira, José Roberto Leite, and Harold G. Koenig. “Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil.BMC Med Educ 12 (August 18, 2012): 78. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-12-78.
Lucchetti G, Lucchetti ALG, Espinha DCM, de Oliveira LR, Leite JR, Koenig HG. Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil. BMC Med Educ. 2012 Aug 18;12:78.
Lucchetti, Giancarlo, et al. “Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil.BMC Med Educ, vol. 12, Aug. 2012, p. 78. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/1472-6920-12-78.
Lucchetti G, Lucchetti ALG, Espinha DCM, de Oliveira LR, Leite JR, Koenig HG. Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil. BMC Med Educ. 2012 Aug 18;12:78.
Journal cover image

Published In

BMC Med Educ

DOI

EISSN

1472-6920

Publication Date

August 18, 2012

Volume

12

Start / End Page

78

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Students, Medical
  • Spirituality
  • Schools, Medical
  • Religion and Medicine
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Physician Executives
  • Medical Informatics
  • Humans
  • Health