Training to Conduct Research on Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Commentary

Scientific research on religion, spirituality and health is fundamental, or our health care systems will become spuriously tokenistic rather than being truly holistic. Likewise, training in scientific research with respect to the interconnection between religion/spirituality and health, is also essential so as to ensure the future inclusion and development of religion and spirituality across the disciplines of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, pastoral/spiritual care, and other allied health disciplines. This paper describes research training programs now available to obtain the skills and knowledge to develop, fund, manage, and publish research in this area, and disseminate it to clinicians and the general public. First, a model research program is described, and then, three examples of training programs at Duke, Emory, and Yale University are presented. Such training programs seek to develop the next generation of researchers who will dedicate their lives and careers to conducting research on religion and health, teaching it to students, and integrating the findings into clinical practice both in the USA and around the world. Scholarships are now available for health professionals to obtain such training, particularly for academic scholars early in their careers (e.g., graduate students, junior faculty) and for more senior researchers wishing to conduct studies in this area. Nearly 80% of the world’s population have religious or spiritual beliefs that influence their health and well-being in one way or another. Learning to carry out and publish systematic research will help fill the many gaps in knowledge concerning how religion affects health and health affects religion.