Stopping aggressive treatment or hoping for a miracle: an analysis of spiritual care messages for terminally ill patients using the National Survey of religious leaders

Abstract

Religious and spiritual needs are important for seriously ill patients. Conflicting evidence for who provides this care and how it fits into the biomedical context remains. Quantitative analysis of the National Study of Religious Leaders (NSRL) survey data (N = 1600) resulted in three statistically significant logistic regression models. Conflicts with scientific beliefs, openness to changing beliefs based on scientific findings, and race/ethnicity were associated with religious leaders' recommendations related to stopping curative treatment. Multiple factors such as belief in miraculous healing, the prosperity gospel, and openness to changing beliefs based on scientific findings, were associated with hoping for a miracle. How often a clergy visited a terminally ill person in the last 12 months, and their educational attainment were associated with discussing palliative care. Results highlight the opportunity for additional care coordination and education among religious clergy, professional chaplains and clinical providers in EOL contexts.

Keywords: Chaplains; end-of-life; miracle cure; religious leaders; terminal illness.