Can adherence to Christian principles help suffering patients?

 

Hello again, welcome back! We have been exploring the exciting topic of scripture and how adherence to the Christian principles of daily living (prayer, praise, fellowship, receiving Biblical teaching and service) enhance a person's wellbeing (Acts 2:42,47). In prior blogs we have reported our findings in the general healthy population, but can the medically ill also improve their wellbeing through Christian living?

 

Adherence to Christian principles can indeed help suffering patients in several ways. Here are a few key points:

1. Emotional and Spiritual Support: Christian principles often emphasize the importance of community, prayer, and faith, which can provide emotional and spiritual support to patients. This support can help patients feel less isolated and more hopeful.
2. Holistic Care: Incorporating Christian ethics into healthcare can promote a holistic approach to patient care, addressing not just physical symptoms but also emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
3. Compassionate Care: Christian teachings often stress compassion and empathy, which can enhance the quality of care provided by healthcare professionals. This can lead to better patient outcomes and a more comforting experience for those who are suffering.
4. Ethical Decision-Making: Christian principles can guide ethical decision-making in healthcare, ensuring that patients are treated with dignity and respect. This can be particularly important in end-of-life care and other sensitive situations.

We examined this question in a cross-sectional survey of patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (https://teleiosresearch.com/religious-adherence-glaucoma/). We evaluated self-reported religious adherence to specific basic activities and knowledge of faith and personal comfort. This specific analysis was limited to self-professed Christians. 

 

The survey included 248 patients from one clinical practice in Charleston, SC, and showed that those who were adherent to activities intended to create religious maturity (drawing encouragement from other church members, reading Scripture, or encouraging others to have faith) and had at least a basic knowledge about their faith, demonstrated greater comfort related to their illness and treatment. Specifically, comfort was manifested as a positive attitude towards their disease, a better ability to cope with their symptoms, and a belief that God was concerned about their diagnosis and helped with their treatment.  

 

When the findings were further analyzed by assessing those subjects who were most 'adherent' compared to those who were least adherent, an even greater separation between groups was observed with respect to comfort. This finding may indicate that the more serious a person is about the practice of their religion, the greater sense of wellbeing they may derive from it.  

 

This study suggested that Christian practice may assist patients in better coping with their disease and that it may possibly increase the quality of their lives. Overall, integrating Christian principles into patient care can contribute to a more supportive and compassionate healthcare environment. 

 

Thanks for visiting. I hope you will return next week for further discussion about the practical use of the Bible in daily life. 

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

Website – http://teleiosresearch.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/TeleiosResearch

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TeleiosVideos/

 

Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.