Spirituality, religion, and health: a critical appraisal of the Larson reports.
The four-volume corpus The Faith Factor, and Scientific Research on Spirituality and Health: A Consensus Report by Larson et al constitute the largest English-language review of research on spirituality and health. We have done a critique of the 329 systematic analyses of peer-reviewed research papers presented therein. The objectives were to determine if the Larson conclusions can be generalized; to document the understanding of the potential of qualitative research in assessing the spiritual domain; and to examine whether the definitions of religion and spirituality used by Larson et al correspond to those in general use. We conclude that their results cannot be generalized to other religious and cultural settings; that there is a need for more research focusing on age groups, cultures, religions, and clinical settings not adequately represented in studies to date; and that the need for more qualitative research methods justifies a detailed analysis of the use of qualitative methods in the studies reviewed by the Larson group. Finally, there is a need to establish a common vocabulary that bridges cultural and religious traditions, and facilitates clinical care, research, and teaching relating to spirituality, religion, and health.
Freedman
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McGill Programs for Integrated Whole Person Care, 546 Pine Ave. W., Montreal QC H2W 1S6, Canada.
Orenstein
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Boston
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Amour
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T
Seely
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Mount
B M
BM
D003469:Culture; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012107:Research Design; D029181:Spirituality