Student religiosity and attitudes toward religion in medicine at a private Catholic medical school.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study examined attitudes of medical students at a private Catholic medical school toward religion in medical education and practice and the relationship of these attitudes to medical student religiosity. METHODS: Surveys were mailed to first- and second-year medical students at Saint Louis University. The survey concerned attitudes about the integration of religious issues into the medical school curriculum and clinical practice and the personal importance of religion in the student's life (i.e., religiosity). RESULTS: The response rate was 61% (188/308). Nearly half of the students supported the introduction of religious studies into the medical curriculum, primarily through electives and modelling during clinical clerkships. Students with a higher level of personal religiosity were more likely to advocate training and participation in religious inquiry and behavior in the medical clinic. CONCLUSIONS: A significant minority of medical students at this Catholic university supported attention to religious issues in the medical school curriculum. The percentage might be lower at medical schools with no religious affiliation. The data indicate that students' religiosity is associated with their support for religious inquiry with patients and for the inclusion of religious issues in the medical school curriculum.