Spirituality Helps in Patient Recovery: Study

Medicinal science may have progressed in leaps and bounds but it seems spirituality can also help in improving one's health, according to a new study.

"Spirituality and the practitioners' approach to their patients play a huge part in recovery from illness," said Melanie Rogers, senior lecturer and advanced nurse practitioner at the University of Huddersfield.

She says that spirituality is a vague term for many and it is confused with religion sometimes. However, she says, spirituality is intensely practical, reports Medical Express. She explains that people can find spirituality in their work, community and relationships.

"It helps sustain health care workers and patients by recognising and supporting a sense of meaning and purpose in life. It can improve resilience in patients and practitioners alike, in addition to improving the experience of illness and crisis in patients," she added.

The University of Huddersfield is an important centre of spirituality research  and works on how it can be integrated into health care teaching .

Rogers, whose recent co-authored articles include an evaluation of therapeutic optimism, dealing with the role played by a practitioner's belief in a patient's recovery.

Rogers has written an  article, 'Health care lecturers' perceptions of spirituality in education',  published in the journal Nursing Standard . Her co-authors were University of Huddersfield colleagues Professor Wattis, Dr John Stephenson and Janice Jones.  Her other articles include an evaluation of therapeutic optimism, dealing with the role played by a practitioner's belief in a patient's recovery.

Melanie Rogers  gives lectures on spirituality at conferences in the UK and overseas.