Believing in patients' beliefs: physician attunement to the spiritual dimension as a positive factor in patient healing and health.

The spiritual dimension has been demonstrated by research to be an important and fundamental aspect of human functioning, one that positively affects healing and health and should be mobilized as an active part of the health care of persons. Moreover, physicians have an obligation to acknowledge the potential role of spirituality in the health and healing of patients and to form a therapeutic alliance with patients that takes their spirituality into account and affirms its importance. Questions about persons' spiritual beliefs and practices, their values, and what they consider meaningful in their lives should become part of the initial medical interview and an ongoing focus in the physician-patient relationship.