Physicist Richard Feynman once said, “Religion is a culture of faith. Science is a culture of doubt.” Can the two ever connect in the physician’s office?

Let’s just start with the cold, hard facts. Studies suggest that up to 77 percent of patients would like spiritual issues considered as part of their medical care, yet only 10 percent to 20 percent of physicians discuss these ideas with patients.

In a landmark 2007 Harvard University study, some 72 percent of patients said that their spiritual needs were minimally or not at all met by the medical system. Yet, this variable – the degree of spiritual support – was the second most powerful predictor of quality of life.

Do you hear that line between faith and science beginning to blur? Regardless of what you think about the efficacy of faith as part of the healing process, there is a growing body of evidence pointing to the clear need for physicians to be able to better connect mind, body and spirit.

SURVEY SHOWS

There are a plethora of studies supporting the idea that spirituality and faith can be beneficial in the healing process. Faith has been connected to longer life, a more positive outlook, strong social support networks, less depression and enhanced recovery from illness and surgery.

At the very least, an individual’s faith has an impact on his or her experience of illness and disease. Placebo effect? Perhaps so. But positive beliefs, higher expectations and strong relationships all work together to improve health outcomes and should be considered relevant in the provision of health care.

Conversation about and an understanding of a patient’s spirituality can be valuable to the physician, as well. Faith may well provide a context for a patient’s understanding of the illness and may affect the type of care a person is willing to seek and accept. This information can help the physician guide the way in which care is suggested or provided. It might also lead to better following of doctor’s orders. One study showed that a physician’s inquiry about spiritual beliefs strengthens a patient’s trust in the physician.

HOW TO BEGIN?

The clinical integration of faith is not about indoctrination in a physician’s own personal faith. It is about asking questions and incorporating a patient’s unique take on spirituality, helping him or her apply it to the healing process.

There are several ways in which physicians can begin this process, regardless of their own personal relationship with faith, religion and spirituality. Two, in particular, stand out from the crowd because they are easy to implement and easy to remember.

The first is HOPE, developed by a pair of physicians from Brown University School of Medicine.

Questions for the patient follow this structure:

H: Hope
What are the sources of hope, meaning, comfort, strength, peace, love and connection for the patient?
O: Organized religion
Is the patient involved in organized religion? Which?
P: Personal practices
What is the patient’s personal spirituality and practices?
E: Effect on care
What effects does the patient’s spirituality have on his or her view of medical care and end of life issues?

Another practical tool is FICA. No, not payroll taxes. This is an assessment developed by Christina Pulchalski, M.D., a professor of medicine at George Washington University Medical Center.

It stands for:

F: Faith
What gives meaning to the patient’s life?
I: Importance and Influence:
How important is faith to the patient?
C: Community:
Is the patient part of a religious or spiritual community?
A: Address in care:
How would the patient like you to address these issues in providing health care?

Based on the answers to these questions, a physician will have a clearer idea of how spirituality and faith might play out in health care and healing. It may take all of 2 minutes – but it may help determine how best to respond, whether it’s referring to another doctor or chaplain, discussing patient expectations for healing or even clarifying whether or not the patient wants the physician to talk about spiritual issues.

We are finally in a place where there’s a growing interest in honoring the connection between the healing arts and faith – or at least in taking the conversation deeper.