Research
Article: Spirituality and Religion in Oncology
Despite the difficulty in clearly defining and measuring spirituality, a growing literature describes its importance in oncology and survivorship. Religious/spiritual beliefs influence patients’ decision-making with respect to both complementary therapies and aggressive care at the end of life. Measures of spirituality and spiritual well-being correlate with quality of life in cancer patients, cancer survivors, and caregivers.
Source: CA, A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Volume 63 / Number 4 / JulyAugust 2013
Presentation: Stress & Healthcare
This presentation is by Dr. George Slavich of UCLA. Stress has a major effect on the body and contributes to the 6 major diseases, that account for 75% of all medical costs or $2 trillion. Mindfulness, meditation and other practices that calm the mind and still the body can have tremendous impact on healing and healthcare.
Article: Cancer and Writing
By writing about their journey with breast cancer, patients can reduce depressive symptoms. Article from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Article: Taking a Spiritual History
The rationale for assessing the spiritual needs of psychiatric patients is examined in this article by Larry Culliford, published in <i>Advances in Psychiatric Treatment</i>.
Article: Screening the Soul
The purpose of this study was to explore the spiritual concerns of seriously ill patients and the spiritual care practices of primary care physicians. Published in The Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine.
Article: Spiritual Concerns in Pediatrics
Many pediatricians believe that spiritual / religious concerns of patients and their families are important in some clinical situations. This research, published in The Journal of the Association of Professional Chaplains, identifies these situations and the education and preparation of pediatricians necessary to respond optimally to these situations.
Presentation: PNI, Health & Spirituality
This presentation by Dr. Bellinger, demonstrates that health and well-being is more than the absence of disease. Thoughts, feelings and spiritual beliefs have great impact on a person's health; the mind-body-spirit approaches and therapies offer many clinical implications for patient care.
Denise Bellinger, PhD is an associate research professor in the Dept. of Pathology and Human Anatomy at Loma Linda University School of Medicine for Neuro-immunology.
Presentation: Adverse Childhood Experiences
This research and presentation is a collaborative effort between Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and is the largest study of its kind. It examines the consequences of adverse childhood experiences and how they are powerful predictors of adult social functioning, health-risks, disease and death. Presented by Vincent Felitti, MD, a Clinical Professor of Medicine at University of California, and a co-Principal Investigator in the ACE Study.
Presentation: Spiritual Pain and ACE Study
This presentation on spiritual and psychic pain, explores how Adverse Childhood Experiences are associated with chronic diseases and how palliative care physicians can best use this information improve quality of life for their patients and the family.
Article: Art and the BRAIN
How the creative process helps our brain to heal from trauma.