BMC Health Services Research (Jul 2009)

Conceptualising spirituality for medical research and health service provision

  • Koenig Harold G,
  • King Michael B

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-9-116
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 116

Abstract

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Abstract The need to take account of spirituality in research and health services provision is assuming ever greater importance. However the field has long been hampered by a lack of conceptual clarity about the nature of spirituality itself. We do not agree with the sceptical claim that it is impossible to conceptualise spirituality within a scientific paradigm. Our aims are to 1) provide a brief over-view of critical thinking that might form the basis for a useful definition of spirituality for research and clinical work and 2) demystify the language of spirituality for clinical practice and research.