Background: Spiritual struggle is a state of distress a person experiences when relationships with the sacred are fundamentally challenged or broken. Its presence has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. During the COVID-19 pandemic, attempts to address the whole being of patients, including spiritual well-being, were explored to improve outcomes of care. Objective: The study determined the prevalence of spiritual struggle among COVID-19 related cases and assessed the effectiveness of a formulated spiritual regimen versus the standard pastoral care. Methods: This is a randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial. COVID-19 patients tagged as having religious struggle were randomized into two equal groups (chaplain-led spiritual intervention and self-driven standard pastoral care). The Religious Struggle Screening Scale (RSSS) was measured at baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention in both groups. Results: Prevalence of spiritual struggle among COVID-19 patients was 67%. Baseline patient demographics were similar for both groups. The overall RSSS slightly decreased throughout the 4-week duration for both groups. In addition, the six dimensions of the RSSS, namely: divine, demonic, interpersonal, moral, ultimate meaning and doubt were noted to have slightly improved. However, the differences in the two groups were not significant. Conclusion There is no difference in the effect on religious struggle of a formulated spiritual regimen and standard care given to COVID-19 patients.
COVID-19 ; Religion

This paper summarizes a lecture on psychiatry and spirituality, which examined research onthe relationship between religion, spirituality and mental health, and discussed theimportance of addressing spiritual issues in psychotherapy. In this article, religion andspirituality are first differentiated from one another. Next, research on the relationshipbetween religion and mental health is examined. Third, a theoretical model is presentedexplaining how religious involvement may affect mental and social health. Fourth, a review of religious/spiritually-integrated psychotherapy is presented with a focus ondepression/anxiety, moral injury, and PTSD. Finally, further resources for more informationabout the topic is provided. Because many people in the Philippines are religious, and religionaffects mental health one way or the other, it cannot be ignored by psychiatrists who practicein this country.
Religion ; Spirituality ; Depression ; Anxiety ; Suicide ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Psychotherapy

Objective: The vaccine rollout in the Asian region was slower than in other countries. Factors such as lack of knowledge and skepticism towards the vaccine were noted. On the other hand, the influence of religious leaders on the congregation was enormous, including their intention to vaccinate. Guided by the Health Belief Model theory, this study aimed to explore the knowledge, belief and perceived susceptibility and severity of COVID, the perceived benefits and barriers of the vaccines, and the intention to vaccinate among the Seventh Day Adventists in Asia. Methods: This was a descriptive study with respondents chosen through a multi-stage sampling method within the Asian region. A validated self-survey questionnaire, piloted among 40 respondents, was used using the Google online form. Data gathering was conducted for one month, from May until June 2021. Results: Out of 400 questionnaires distributed, 396 responded with a return rate of 0.99%. The majority were aged 18–29 years (43.2%), men (61.4%), married (50.2%), completed a bachelors' degree (49.5%), currently working (65.4%), and have been a member of the church for 20 years (30.8%). The majority had excellent knowledge regarding the vaccine (mean 4.72, ± 1.33); despite having low belief in the vaccine (mean 2.18, ± 0.43), low perception of their susceptibility to acquiring COVID (mean 2.43, ± 0.34), low perception on the seriousness of COVID (mean 2.30, ±0.40), low perception on vaccine benefits (mean 2.27, ± 0.45), and perceived low barrier on being vaccinated (mean 2.27, ±.45). Most of them intend to vaccinate (67.3%). Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that the majority of Adventists intend to vaccinate. However, there is a need for health education to enhance their belief in the vaccine and change their negative perception about their susceptibility and severity of COVID.
COVID vaccine ; religion ; health belief model ; belief

Background: The study of spirituality in old age has been extensively explored in recent years in the field of gerontology, but there is still much debate over the concept itself. To understand it better, it is necessary to delve deeper into how the relationship manifests itself among older adults. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine and analyze how older adults from various socio- demographic characteristics, economic backgrounds, and health status perceived spirituality. Methodology: In using qualitative cross-case analysis in a sample of 12 older adults who were 60 years old and above from Lanao del Sur, Philippines, this study explored the similarities and differences across and between cases in terms of the socio-demographic characteristics, economic backgrounds, and health status of older adults. Results: The findings revealed that one's spirituality is influenced by various factors and may take on different meanings depending on one's circumstances in life. The statements of the participants indicate that one's spirituality may be influenced by several factors such as, but not limited to, one's religion, sex, age, health status, financial condition, and educational attainment. Conclusion The research is significant because it is critical to comprehend the function of spirituality in the lives of older adults. It was suggested that families, the community, and faith-based institutions work together to analyze, plan, implement, and evaluate interventions for older adults. Exploring the different meanings of spirituality for older adults will improve spiritual nursing care as well as gerontological care. This contributes to the overall well-being of older adult patients.
Spirituality ; Health Status ; Religion

INTRODUCTION: This study explored attitudes towards vasectomy and its acceptance as a method of contraception among clinical-year medical students, and determined the association between their demographic characteristics, and attitudes and acceptance. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinical-year medical students from a Malaysian private medical college using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 330 participants with a female preponderance and a mean age of 22.0 ± 1.1 years. The largest proportion of respondents were from Year 3. The vast majority were ethnically Malay (91.8%) and followed Islam (92.4%). Overall, 60.9% of participants had a positive attitude towards vasectomy and 76.0% showed good acceptance. Gender, academic year, ethnicity and religion variables were not associated with attitudes and acceptance (p > 0.05). A significantly higher proportion of male respondents thought that vasectomy was religiously forbidden and would give a bad impression. A significantly higher proportion of Year 5 students agreed to the statement 'I would recommend vasectomy to relatives, friends and people close to me' compared to Year 3 and 4 students. CONCLUSION Students' perception of vasectomy as a contraceptive method was encouraging. Our results suggest that their knowledge improved as medical training progressed, and attitudes evolved for the better irrespective of their traditional, cultural and religious beliefs - highlighting the importance of providing students with evidence-based learning about male sterilisation, which is more cost-effective and is associated with lower morbidity than female sterilisation. A qualitative study involving students from different ethnicities and religions would provide a better understanding of this subject.
Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Contraception ; methods ; psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Malaysia ; Male ; Religion and Medicine ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vasectomy ; psychology ; Young Adult

Background: Family planning is a critical component of maternal and child health. It ensures proper spacing of children as well as having a target desired number of children. Objective: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices on Family Planning among reproductive age Filipino-Muslim Women. Methodology: It was conducted in tertiary hospital in Northern Mindanao at the Out-Patient Department. Demographic and study data were gathered through a validated questionnaire. Results: Results showed that most Filipino-Muslim Women coming in for prenatal checkup were in their late twenties (28.3%), unemployed, and already with 2 to 4 pregnancies. Associations were tested using Chi Square and significant correlations between patients’ demographic characteristics and their knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding family planning. Conclusion The study concludes that there is an association between patients’ age and educational status, and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding family planning. Further studies can be done to establish causation between risk factors and outcomes regarding family planning. A scoring system may be developed in the future classifying mothers as likely or unlikely to practice good family planning, which will allow for targeted family planning counseling.
Family Planning Services ; Maternal Health ; Religion

Introduction: Solat or prayer, as one of the five pillars of Islam, is associated with bio-psycho-social benefits in Muslim patients. Many Muslim patients neglected solat while being hospitalized as they are unaware of the convenience (rukhsoh) available for them. Ibadah Friendly Hospital Courses have been conducted in different states of Malaysia to impart knowledge to the hospital staff who can in turn educate their patients. This study aims to construct a content-validated assessment tool to assess the effectiveness of a state-level Hospital Mesra Ibadah course. Materials and methods: A self-administered questionnaire was constructed and content-validated by a panel of three experts (two religious teachers and one consultant spine surgeon). All 15 questions achieved item-level content validity index (I-CVI) of 1.00 after two rounds of validation. The questionnaires were distributed to participants of a state-level Hospital Mesra Ibadah course to compare the participants’ pre-course and post-course test scores. Results: A total of 88 participants (48.9%) were included in this study. There was a significant difference in the pre-course test mean score and post-course test mean score among the participants. There was also a significant reduction of unsure answers after the course. There was no significant association found between the gender, place of work and occupation with the pre-post test score difference. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the Hospital Mesra Ibadah course is effective in imparting as well as consolidating the knowledge among participants, hence it should be routinely organized to benefit more participants.
Islam ; Religion ; Medicine ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The South Korean government introduced the universal long-term care insurance program in 2008 that created a new employment category of “paid family-care worker” to assist the elderly with chronic illnesses including dementia. The aim of this study was to understand the lived experience of paid family-care workers of people with dementia in South Korea. METHODS: The study was a qualitative research design underpinned by interpretive description principles involving eight paid family-care workers. The participants were recruited by attaching the advertisement flyer in a notice board of an educational facility for paid family-care workers. RESULTS: Paid family-care workers struggled to manage the behavioral and psychological symptoms of their care recipients. Their workloads created physical, emotional, social, and financial burdens. However, the care-giving activities were encouraged through their sense of responsibility, filial piety, and personal religious beliefs. Financial subsidies from the government and help received from others were also identified as encouragements. The education course provided to them assisted them to improve their dementia-care capabilities. CONCLUSION: Understanding paid family-care workers' lived experience in dementia care in South Korea assists with the identification of their educational needs and level of support they require to improve dementia care in the home care environment. A number of suggestions are made to increase paid family-care workers' knowledge, clinical skills, and job satisfaction to reduce their burdens and work-related incidents, such as challenging behaviors from those being cared for.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Clinical Competence ; Dementia* ; Education ; Employment ; Health Personnel ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Job Satisfaction ; Korea* ; Long-Term Care ; Qualitative Research ; Religion ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to characterize the influence of achievement motivation and the parent-child relationship on ego identity in Korean nursing students. METHODS: The participants were 217 Korean nursing students in the first and fourth year of university. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires composed of items assessing ego identity, achievement motivation, the parent-child relationship, and demographic characteristics. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, the χ2 test, and multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Ego identity was related to achievement motivation; moreover, the achievement motivation of students with moratorium and achieved identity status was significantly higher than that of students with low-profile moratorium and diffused identity statuses. Ego identity was not related to the mother-child relationship, but the father-child relationship of students in foreclosure was sig-nificantly higher than that of students with diffused identity status. The factors influencing achieved identity compared to diffused identity were achievement motivation, year in school, satisfaction with school, and having religious beliefs. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that nursing students' ego identity attainment was more influenced by achievement motivation than by the parent-child relationship. It emphasizes that highly motivated students can develop their own identities regardless of the parent-child relationship.
Ego ; Father-Child Relations ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mother-Child Relations ; Motivation ; Nursing ; Parent-Child Relations ; Religion ; Students, Nursing

No abstract available.
Religion and Medicine