If a doctor is truly concerned about patients, she or he would want to help support them in what helps them handle the trauma of serious illness.
Spirituality is central to many patients' lives.
It is the obligation of all physicians to listen to their patients' fears, beliefs, and hopes - that is what spiritual assessment is. Many patients, however, would welcome such discussion. Yet 68 percent said their physicians never discussed religious beliefs with them. One study at Duke University Medical Center found that 44 percent of hospitalized patients believed that religious beliefs were the most important factor in coping with their illness, but only 9 percent of their physicians held the same view. These courses also often encourage working together with chaplains as part of the healthcare team.