Characteristics of Religious and Spiritual Beliefs of Danish Physicians: And Likelihood of Addressing Religious and Spiritual Issues with Patients

• DOI: 10.1007/s10943-018-0662-7
• Publication Date: 2018-07-02T15:49:29Z
• Authors: Christian Balslev...; Tobias Opsahl; Elisabeth Assing ...; Alex Kappel Kørup; Lars Bjerrum; Karsten Flemming ...; Niels Christian H...
• Keywords: Male; Secular society; Physician-Patient Relations; Attitude of Health Personnel; Denmark; Religion and Medicine; 05 social sciences; Gender; 3. Good health; Religion; Physician; Humans; Female; Spirituality; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences

This study investigated the association between physicians' R/S characteristics and frequency of addressing patients' R/S issues. Information was obtained through a questionnaire mailed to 1485 Danish physicians (response rate 63%) (42% female). We found significant associations between physicians' personal R/S and the frequency of addressing R/S issues. Moreover, we identified significant gender differences in most R/S characteristics. However, no differences in frequency of addressing R/S issues were identified across gender. This raises some questions regarding the effects of gender on associations between R/S characteristics and frequency of addressing R/S issues.