Gowri Anandarajah1. 1. Department of Family Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA. Gowri_Anandarajah@brown.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: The explosion of evidence in the last decade supporting the role of spirituality in whole-person patient care has prompted proposals for a move to a biopsychosocial-spiritual model for health. Making this paradigm shift in today's multicultural societies poses many challenges, however. This article presents 2 theoretical models that provide common ground for further exploration of the role of spirituality in medicine. METHODS: The 3 H model (head, heart, hands) and the BMSEST models (body, mind, spirit, environment, social, transcendent) evolved from the author's 12-year experience with curricula development regarding spirituality and medicine, 16-year experience as an attending family physician and educator, lived experience with both Hinduism and Christianity since childhood, and a lifetime study of the world's great spiritual traditions. The models were developed, tested with learners, and refined. RESULTS: The 3 H model offers a multidimensional definition of spirituality, applicable across cultures and belief systems, that provides opportunities for a common vocabulary for spirituality. Therapeutic options, from general spiritual care (compassion, presence, and the healing relationship), to specialized spiritual care (eg, by clinical chaplains), to spiritual self-care are discussed. The BMSEST model provides a conceptual framework for the role of spirituality in the larger health care context, useful for patient care, education, and research. Interactions among the 6 BMSEST components, with references to ongoing research, are proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Including spirituality in whole-person care is a way of furthering our understanding of the complexities of human health and well-being. The 3 H and BMSEST models suggest a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach based on universal concepts and a foundation in both the art and science of medicine.
PURPOSE: The explosion of evidence in the last decade supporting the role of spirituality in whole-personpatient care has prompted proposals for a move to a biopsychosocial-spiritual model for health. Making this paradigm shift in today's multicultural societies poses many challenges, however. This article presents 2 theoretical models that provide common ground for further exploration of the role of spirituality in medicine. METHODS: The 3 H model (head, heart, hands) and the BMSEST models (body, mind, spirit, environment, social, transcendent) evolved from the author's 12-year experience with curricula development regarding spirituality and medicine, 16-year experience as an attending family physician and educator, lived experience with both Hinduism and Christianity since childhood, and a lifetime study of the world's great spiritual traditions. The models were developed, tested with learners, and refined. RESULTS: The 3 H model offers a multidimensional definition of spirituality, applicable across cultures and belief systems, that provides opportunities for a common vocabulary for spirituality. Therapeutic options, from general spiritual care (compassion, presence, and the healing relationship), to specialized spiritual care (eg, by clinical chaplains), to spiritual self-care are discussed. The BMSEST model provides a conceptual framework for the role of spirituality in the larger health care context, useful for patient care, education, and research. Interactions among the 6 BMSEST components, with references to ongoing research, are proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Including spirituality in whole-person care is a way of furthering our understanding of the complexities of human health and well-being. The 3 H and BMSEST models suggest a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach based on universal concepts and a foundation in both the art and science of medicine.
Authors: P Ramakrishnan; A Dias; A Rane; A Shukla; S Lakshmi; B K M Ansari; R S Ramaswamy; A R Reddy; A Tribulato; A K Agarwal; J Bhat; N SatyaPrasad; A Mushtaq; P H Rao; P Murthy; H G Koenig Journal: J Relig Health Date: 2014-08
Authors: P Ramakrishnan; A Karimah; K Kuntaman; A Shukla; B K M Ansari; P H Rao; M Ahmed; A Tribulato; A K Agarwal; H G Koenig; P Murthy Journal: J Relig Health Date: 2015-04
Authors: Deborah L Helitzer; Andrew L Sussman; Richard M Hoffman; Christina M Getrich; Teddy D Warner; Robert L Rhyne Journal: Eval Program Plann Date: 2014-04-30