SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF SURGERY

Abstract

For the first time in modern history, health professionals are beginning to appreciate seriously the role that spirituality plays in patients' lives. There are several reasons for this change. First, there has been disillusionment among patients and many health professionals about the benefits that high technologic surgery provide, and recognition that such technology is limited in its ability to meet human needs. Second, research has shown that many people depend on religion and spirituality as their primary method of coping with physical health problems and the stress of surgery. Third, there is increasing evidence that religious beliefs and practices are related to better mental health, better physical health, and improved adaptation to illness and disability, both for patients and their caregivers. Fourth, there is increasing interest in and attention being paid to whole person medicine based on a biopsychosocial-spiritual model in which the biologic, social, psychologic, and spiritual aspects of the person are seen as being inextricably linked with each other. Before beginning it is necessary to define the terms used in this chapter. Spirituality and religion are similar concepts, but they do differ. Religion often tends to be viewed as more institutionally based, more structured, and more based in tradition, whereas spirituality is seen as being more personal, more internally based, and more broad and inclusive. Religion involves accountability and responsibility, whereas spirituality has fewer requirements. Although a person may reject traditional religion, they can always consider themselves spiritual. Health professionals and educators often present religion as restrictive or inhibiting of human potential, whereas they portray spirituality as a loftier, more favored concept. Spirituality has become such a broad term, however, that it has become inclusive of almost every positive human quality, striving, or emotion. In many respects, spirituality has begun to loose its distinctiveness. These differences between spirituality and religion are less important to older adults than to researchers and academicians. Studies have shown that more than 90% of older Americans consider themselves both religious and spiritual; in contrast, only about 5% to 10% consider themselves spiritual but not religious. Interestingly, almost 50% of mental health professionals consider themselves spiritual but not religious. 51 Because much of the research in the field has involved assessment of religion, not spirituality, most of what I have to say applies to religion. Finally, because more than 95% of Americans are of a monotheistic religious tradition, terms used in this article reflect that tradition.