Religion in the treatment of chronic kidney disease: a comparison between doctors and patients

Abstract Chronic kidney disease is a disease with high morbidity and mortality. The daily life of affected patients includes negative feelings, fear of prognosis, disability, and economic dependence, as well as challenges related to changes in self-image. Religion and spirituality can be important resources in dealing with these difficulties. To test this hypothesis a qualitative, descriptive study was undertaken at the Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio, Pouso Alegre/MG, in order to verify from the point of view of both doctors and patients if they believe that religion influences the treatment of the disease. For doctors, religion represents a strength and a comfort when facing any disease. Patients, however, identify religion with the hope that they will get better. While the significance of religion in their lives was different between the groups, both agreed that it represents a beneficial factor in the life of patients, providing relief, support and optimism.

摘要：慢性肾脏病（Chronic kidney disease）是一种兼具高发病率与高死亡率的疾病。患者的日常生活伴随诸多负面体验：对疾病预后的恐惧、残疾状态、经济依赖，以及与自我形象改变相关的各类挑战。宗教与精神信仰可为应对此类困境提供重要支撑资源。为验证该假设，研究团队在巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州普索阿莱格里市的塞缪尔·利巴尼奥临床医院（Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio）开展了一项质性描述性研究，旨在从医生与患者双视角出发，验证二者是否认为宗教会对疾病治疗产生影响。研究结果显示，对医生而言，宗教在面对各类疾病时可作为一种精神力量与慰藉；而患者则将宗教与病情好转的希望相绑定。尽管两组群体对宗教在各自生活中的意义认知存在差异，但二者均认可宗教可为患者生活带来积极影响，能够提供慰藉、支持与乐观情绪。