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Table 2 Medical students’ opinions concerning spirituality, religiosity and health

From: Medical students, spirituality and religiosity-results from the multicenter study SBRAME

Medical students’ opinions

n

%

How do you define spirituality? (checking more than one alternative was possible)

  

 Belief and relationship with God/Religiosity

1408

38.8

 Search for meaning and significance for human life

1380

38.0

 Belief in the existence of soul and life after death

747

20.5

 Belief in something that transcends matter

1555

42.8

 Ethical and humanistic posture

684

18.8

Does spirituality influence the health of patients?

  

 A lot

2568

71.2

 Somewhat

852

23.7

 A little or no influence

187

5.1

Is this influence positive or negative?

  

 Positive

2458

68.2

 Negative

170

4.7

 Positive and negative

917

25.4

 No influence at all

54

1.7

Influence on patient-physician relationship and health disease process

  

 High influence

1328

36.8

 Moderate Influence

1368

37.9

 Little or no influence

910

25.3

Do you want to address your patients’ religious/spiritual issues?

  

 Yes

2073

58.0

 No

1500

42.0

Do you feel prepared to address it?

  

 A lot

358

10.5

 Somewhat

1386

40.8

 A little or no prepared

1645

48.7

How relevant is the approach of spirituality for a doctor?

  

 A lot

1102

30.6

 Somewhat

1608

44.7

 A little or not relevant

887

24.6

Is it appropriate for a doctor to pray with a patient?

  

 Never

818

22.8

 Only if the patient asks for

2250

62.7

 Every time the doctor think it is appropriate

516

14.3