Program to Enhance Well-being and Psychospiritual Understanding Implications in Indian Medical Care Perspective

ABSTRACT

Background: Spirituality is an important dimension of life. The medical practitioner’s well-being is an under-appreciated priority in India. As research on spirituality is minimal, this study attempts to introduce an online 6-week Eastern spirituality-based educational program for physicians. The primary aim was to see the effects of the intervention on the well-being of the participants. The secondary aim was to form an opinion about an extension to medical practice. Materials and methods: A total of 60 medical practitioners were randomized into two groups— one attended the spirituality sessions while the other placebo “self-care” sessions. Quantitative outcome measures were Warwick-Edinburg Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) and World Health Organization (WHO) Well-being Index (WHO-5) noted pre and postprogram. Qualitative data was collected to support the quantitative outcomes. Statistical tests used were unpaired and paired t-tests for quantitative data. A 5-point Likert scale and Cochran’s Q test were used for the qualitative data. Results: In the spirituality group, postsession WEMWBS and WHO-5 scores improved with p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0033, respectively. Regarding qualitative data, 94.44% of physicians “agreed/strongly agreed” in favor of the benefits of sessions with p = 0.0242 and Q = 5.0793. A total of 86.67% of physicians felt the sessions have helped them to understand other’s spirituality-related problems and made them more confident to discuss spirituality with others. Conclusion: The online Eastern spirituality program had a positive impact on the well-being of Indian medical practitioners. There appears to be a potential for extension to the medical care setting. The results need to be substantiated by further studies.