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Physician perspectives on the role of religion in the physician-older patient relationship.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Koenig, HG; Bearon, LB; Dayringer, R
Published in: J Fam Pract
April 1989

A study of 160 family physicians and general practitioners found that the majority of physicians believed that religion has a positive effect on the mental health of older patients, and many believed that religion has a positive effect on physical health. While more than one half reported that patients only rarely, if ever, mentioned religious issues during a medical visit, a significant proportion of the physicians felt they should address religious issues when an older person indicates religion's importance and that religious issues should not be reserved completely for the clergy. Nearly two thirds of the physicians felt that prayer with patients was appropriate under certain circumstances, and over one third reported having prayed with older patients during extreme physical or emotional distress. Older physicians were less likely than younger to have positive attitudes toward addressing religious issues. The strongest predictors of physicians' belief in the appropriateness of addressing religious concerns were two attitudinal variables that indicated an understanding of the importance of religion in the lives of older adults and an awareness that patients might desire to engage in prayer with them. Hence, the beliefs and attitudes of the physician appear to be important factors in determining their receptivity to discussion of religious issues, which in turn may influence whether patients mention such issues in the context of the medical visit.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Fam Pract

ISSN

0094-3509

Publication Date

April 1989

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

441 / 448

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Religion and Medicine
  • Physicians, Family
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Middle Aged
  • Illinois
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Aged
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Koenig, H. G., Bearon, L. B., & Dayringer, R. (1989). Physician perspectives on the role of religion in the physician-older patient relationship. J Fam Pract, 28(4), 441–448.
Koenig, H. G., L. B. Bearon, and R. Dayringer. “Physician perspectives on the role of religion in the physician-older patient relationship.J Fam Pract 28, no. 4 (April 1989): 441–48.
Koenig HG, Bearon LB, Dayringer R. Physician perspectives on the role of religion in the physician-older patient relationship. J Fam Pract. 1989 Apr;28(4):441–8.
Koenig, H. G., et al. “Physician perspectives on the role of religion in the physician-older patient relationship.J Fam Pract, vol. 28, no. 4, Apr. 1989, pp. 441–48.
Koenig HG, Bearon LB, Dayringer R. Physician perspectives on the role of religion in the physician-older patient relationship. J Fam Pract. 1989 Apr;28(4):441–448.

Published In

J Fam Pract

ISSN

0094-3509

Publication Date

April 1989

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

441 / 448

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Religion and Medicine
  • Physicians, Family
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Middle Aged
  • Illinois
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Aged