RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEDICINE AND SPIRITUALITY/RELIGIOSITY: IMPACT ON THE ILLNESS PROCESS

Abstract

Studies have shown that patients who have faith, being religious or not, tend to have their well-being improved, feelings of significance and peace, a decrease in suicide rates, depression, anxiety and substance abuse, in addition to greater coping skills in comparison to skeptical patients, once there is a positive relationship between spirituality and physical-mental health. Such positivity strengthens the idea that spirituality is a strategy to face harsh situations, working as a source of invigoration to patients. Thus, this study aims to assess the impact of faith, spirituality and religiosity on individuals in disease situations and how it influences this scenario. This is a cross-sectional and observational study, by applying a questionnaire to 74 patients treated at a Basic Health Unit in the city of Maringá-PR. It was observed that the most part of the respondents do have some kind of faith / spirituality, which depicts a means of support and help when they are sick, emphasizing the importance of recognizing patients who have such a belief, exploring not only the physical side of the disease, but also the mental and spiritual one, in order to approach these as a complementary cornerstone in therapy.