Question

How do spiritual beliefs impact political ideologies and the policy process? How have they affected the health policy reform process?

Answer 1

In the past decades, the physicians have tried to balance their care by reclaiming medicine's more spiritual roots. It was considered that until modern time’s spirituality was often associated with health care. The advancement in technology of the past century changed the focus of medicine from a caring, service-oriented model to a technological, cure-oriented model. Advancement in technology has developed medicine and has the ability to prolong life. The compassionate care of serving the whole person includes physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects. The services of compassionate care are inherently a spiritual activity.

The political ideologies and policy process are affected by the creators and beneficiaries spiritual beliefs. The policies and procedures should go hand in hand with the concerned people's spiritual beliefs.

Mortality rates will be low in people with regular spiritual practices and they tend to live longer.1 Many types of research have shown that religious commitment improves stress control by offering better coping mechanisms, adequate social support, and strengthened personal values and worldview.2

Coping will be also improved in people with high spiritual values. The spiritual beliefs will be utilized to cope with illness, pain, and stresses. They will be more satisfied with their lives, happier, and had less pain.3

Spirituality helps the people to adjust with when challenged by something like a serious illness, stress or loss. Recovery will also enhance the Spiritual beliefs.4

Spirituality is related to the power of hope and positive thinking.5

The healthcare providers must talk about the spirituality with the patients. That will help to plan the proper compassionate care. Many organizations have emphasized the importance of spiritual care. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has a policy that emphasizes the importance of spiritual services as an integral part of healthcare and daily life. It states that the hospital must be able to provide spiritual services for patients who request them. 6

Spirituality can contribute to health in many persons. The spiritual beliefs play an important role in policy and process formulation.

The connection with political beliefs and spirituality is inseparable. Sometimes the religion may lead to more political involvement and vice versa. Health policy reform process should be based on the spiritual beliefs for its maximum benefits.

REFERENCES:

1. Strawbridge WJ, Cohen RD, Shema SJ, Kaplan GA. Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years. Am J Public Health. 1997;87:957–961.

2. Koenig HG, Cohen HJ, George LK, Hays JC, Larson DB, Blazer DG. Attendance at religious services, interleukin-6, and other biological parameters of immune function in older adults. Int J Psychiatry Med. 1997;27:233–250.

3. Yates JW, Chalmer BJ, St James P, Follansbee M, McKegney FP. Religion in patients with advanced cancer. Med Pediatr Oncol. 1981;9:121–

4. Harris RC, Dew MA, Lee A, Amaya M, Buches L, Reetz D, Coleman C. The role of religion in heart-transplant recipients' long-term health and well-being. Journal of Religion and Health. 1995;34(1):17–32.

5. Benson H. Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief. New York: Simon and Schuster; 1996.

6. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH): The Official Handbook (update 3) Oakbrook Terrace, Ill: JCAHO; 1999. Patient rights and organization ethics; pp. R1–15.