Chapter 7 – Religion and Spirituality
7.0 Religion and Spirituality
Camilla Curren MD
Introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of religious and spiritual bias and inherent attitudinal disadvantages in medical and interprofessional relationships.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to do the following:
- Identify religious or spiritual bias in the medical community in interprofessional relationships.
- Identify religious or spiritual bias in physician/patient relationships.
- Describe techniques to neutralize the effects of religious or spiritual bias or ameliorate its impact.
- Describe the negative effects of religious and spiritual bias and discrimination when it is not recognized or addressed- based on the perspectives of the interviewees.
Self-Exploration:
Prior to reading the Religion and Spirituality Chapter, you will be asked to take a self-test.
- Read the Preliminary Information and disclaimer, then click on “I wish to proceed” to take the test. Click to complete the Religion-IAT, the Asian American IAT, and the Arab-Muslim IAT located in Harvard University’s Project Implicit website.
- After taking the test(s) read the next section to read perspectives on religious or spiritual bias in health care.
- You will then have the opportunity to complete a knowledge check to see if you gained a heightened understanding of religion or spiritual bias.
- Use this opportunity to learn more about conscious and unconscious bias in health care, to retake the IAT test(s) and to reflect on how you can apply what you’ve learned.