An assessment of US physicians’ training in religion, spirituality, and medicine

Abstract

This study examined US physicians' training in religion and medicine and its association with addressing religious and spiritual issues in clinical encounters. Reports of receiving training were higher for highly spiritual physicians, psychiatrists, and physicians with high numbers of critically ill patients. Discussing religion or spirituality with patients was associated with having received training through a book or CME literature or during Grand Rounds, through one's religious tradition and from other unspecified sources but not with having received such training in medical school.