Search

Environmental changes are affecting human health. A renewal of the way we understand and relate to the planet is needed. Ecospirituality brings together the terms spirituality and environment and is born as a means of solution to this dilemma. This systematic review aimed to find out the influence of ecospirituality on global health. A search of scientific literature was carried out in the main health science databases. A review was conducted to critically evaluate the studies that identified relevant ecospiritual aspects regarding health care for communities. After a systematic search and screening, and following specified methodological criteria, a total of 14 articles were selected in the review. The findings of the review suggest that a new perspective in our worldview such as ecospirituality will provide us with the necessary keys to improve health. To understand ecospirituality, we must keep in mind the indigenous way of life, which is the clear example to follow to achieve environmental health and global health. Ecospirituality leads to a healthier environment, and as this is directly related to health, there is also an improvement in global health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that affects individuals in various ways involving biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. There is currently no comprehensive treatment that effectively addresses all aspects of pain. This integrative review aimed to analyze the spiritual aspect of pain relief. Following the specified methodological criteria, a total of 20 articles were selected. There evidenced a lack of spiritual care provided by healthcare professionals, even though its correlation with pain and its potential benefits have been widely demonstrated in the literature. Fortunately, some patients put into practice existential and religious tools to self-control and cope with their pain, although not always with a successful response., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Previous studies have shown the benefits of spirituality/religiosity with regard to health and quality of life for people. The high prevalence of neurological disorders, which are the main diseases that cause disability and dependency around the world, makes neurological disorders especially relevant. This systematic mapping review aimed to map the knowledge of spirituality experienced by people with neurological/neurodegenerative disorders and its influence on outcomes and the ability to cope with the disease. Following specified methodological criteria, a total of 13 articles were selected. The spiritual dimension should be considered a fundamental component of the quality of life and well-being of neurological patients as it can significantly influence their ability to cope with their disease., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of Confucianism on health behaviors, health outcomes and medical decisions. The research was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINHAL, PsycINFO and Web of Science, without restrictions of language and year of publication. The search process identified 833 publications matching the search criteria, and after the review process, 40 articles were included. Family is a central aspect of Confucianism, and it seems to affect participation in medical decisions, taking care of relatives, ethical dilemmas and mental health problems. Although most Confucianist influence seems to be positive, some ways of thinking could increase suffering, burnout and a delay in healthcare seeking. Understanding these values could help health professionals to deal with the growing contingent of patients with different cultures and religious beliefs., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been affecting populations globally since the end of 2019. Previous studies have indicated that spirituality in these times of crisis serves as a source of hope and well-being that helps people get through the day. This study investigated the role of spirituality and religiosity in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. An integrative review of the scientific literature available on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and a review of the gray literature in the Information System on Gray Literature in Europe (OpenGrey) were carried out. From a total of 1,338 articles searched; 25 articles were included in this review (22 quantitative observational, 2 qualitative and one randomized controlled trial). Our findings revealed the importance of including spirituality in clinical practice for both health professionals and patients. On the one hand, spirituality can be considered a good coping strategy used by healthcare professionals to promote mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting in greater patient satisfaction with the care given. On the other hand, addressing spiritual needs of individuals leads to a reduction in stress, anxiety, depression, and an increase in resilience and hope among patients., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Insomnia is a common problem, affecting individuals' health and quality of life. Among several therapies used to treat this condition, spiritual interventions are suggested to have beneficial outcomes on sleep disturbances. Nevertheless, a systematic compilation of the evidence available is still needed in the literature in order to scientifically investigate the topic. To examine the most common spiritual interventions proposed to treat sleep disorders and to assess the scientific evidence of these interventions. This is a scoping literature review conducted by independent researchers on the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and OpenGrey. A boolean expression was used, and all studies published in the last 5 years investigating the role of spiritual or religious interventions on insomnia were included. From a total of 3257 articles retrieved in our search, ten studies were included in the final analysis. There is a wide array of techniques used to treat insomnia or the mental disorders associated with insomnia, such as mantra, yoga, mindfulness, praying/meditation, daily spiritual experiences, psycho-religious training and intervention. The included studies showed a positive influence of spiritual/religious interventions on insomnia directly and indirectly. However, there is a scarcity of clinical trials and most studies have small sample sizes and used only subjective measures, resulting in a low evidence. The results of the present review point to a promising role of spirituality and religion on better sleep outcomes, particularly in the improvement in insomnia. However, the heterogeneity and the quality of these studies suggest caution while interpreting these findings. More clinical trials are needed in this area to provide a recommendation of these methods in clinical practice., (© 2020. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In the last decades, studies have increasingly shown an association between religious/spiritual beliefs (R/S) and several health outcomes. In this context, Mormons provide an intriguing case for such investigation because Mormonism stands out for its commitment to the "Word of Wisdom" with several restrictions and recommendations. Despite the consolidated wide array of evidence, showing that the relationship between "Word of Wisdom" and health may usually have a protective effect in North-American studies, little is know about this community in other countries and, to our knowledge, no health studies have ever been carried out in European and Spanish Mormons. The present qualitative study aims to fill this gap, exploring the discourses, opinions, and attitudes of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about the recommendations of the Health Law and the "Word of Wisdom" on their health. In the analysis, six themes appeared during the coding process and were converted in the following categories: Theme 1 Body as a Temple, Theme 2 Promises of blessing, Theme 3 Healthy lifestyle, Theme 4 Stigma, Theme 5 Damage to the family, and Theme 6 Spiritual Performance. We found that fulfilling the "Law of Wisdom" may lead Mormons to take care of their health, and to have a network of support from church leaders, who may act as health promoters. Religiosity tends to insert values and behaviours that seem to benefit individual's health and protect their families, such as the non-use of substances and the preservation of a "healthy body" (i.e. "body as a temple"). However, some stigma and isolation may appear in contact with other groups due to these restrictions and limitations.

The original version of the article was inadvertently published with textual error.

This study aims to investigate the opinions, knowledge and attitudes concerning spirituality, religiosity and health among 75 health MSc graduates from a Spanish university. The questionnaire "Religion and Spirituality in Medicine, Perspectives of Physicians" was used. Most students had low levels of religious activities, agreeing that S/R could have a high influence on the health professional-patient relationship (62.6%). Nevertheless, they felt little prepared to address these issues (90.6%) and believed that universities were not providing enough information on this topic (91.9%). The most common barriers for addressing R/S were insufficient time (34.7%) and fear of offending the patients (31.9%). Nurse students tended to believe more on the influence of R/S on patients' health and on the appropriateness of addressing R/S issues. However, religious beliefs were not associated with students' R/S opinions. The incorporation of such topic could potentially promote the spiritual sensitivity of health professionals, improving the holistic care.

The objective of this study is to know the influence of religious/spiritual elements on the adherence to pharmacological therapy. The descriptors used for this literature review were "medicine, medication, drug, or treatment," "adherence to treatment," and "religion or spirituality or faith or prayer" in different databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed). Finally, 23 articles were selected. Articles available in full text, published between 2010 and 2017, in English or Spanish were included. The results showed that some studies relate positively the R/S and therapeutic adherence, but others determine an opposite or even mixed effect, mainly addressing pathologies such as HIV and other chronic diseases. The influence of religiosity/spirituality on therapeutic adherence requires that health professionals acquire sensitivity and competence to address these issues with their patients.

The aim of the study is to discuss the relationship between lifestyle marked by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and health. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, WOS y Scopus were the databases used for this literature review, with these descriptors: "Mormons", "mormons religion", "health". Inclusion criteria were articles with full text available, published between 2005 and 2016, in English or Spanish language. Results show that following the restrictive Mormon doctrine generates beneficial effects for the health. Habits related to toxics and food, as well as social support, from family and Mormon community are an important basis for good health. On the other hand, not following the prescriptions or leaving the group, opposed sexual identities or not fulfilling the roles associated with women are associated with worse mental and physical health.