Should Physicians Prescribe Religious Activities?

TLDR

Interest in religion’s role in medicine is growing, with 77 % of hospitalized patients wanting physicians to address their spiritual needs. Polls show the U.S. population is highly religious, believing in heaven, hell, prayer’s healing power, and faith’s role in recovery, and the press reports faith promotes comfort and healing.

Abstract

There is increasing interest among the general public and the medical community in the role of religion in medicine. Polls indicate that the U.S. population is highly religious; most people believe in heaven and hell,1 the healing power of prayer,2 and the capacity of faith to aid in the recovery from disease.3 The popular press has published many articles in which religious faith and practice have been said to promote comfort, healing, or both. A report that 77 percent of hospitalized patients wanted physicians to consider their spiritual needs is consistent with this trend.4 Interest in the connection between religion . . .