Family Physicians Must Understand Patients’ Spiritual Beliefs To Improve Treatment – Dr. Adams
Family Medicine Resident at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr. Andriana Wilhemina Parker Adams, says family physicians must pay close attention to the spiritual beliefs and fears of patients because such concerns often influence how people respond to medical treatment.
Speaking in an interview with Opemsuo Radio’s Kofi Boakye on Nkwantannanso, she explained that family medicine focuses on holistic care by understanding not only the medical condition of patients but also their religious and spiritual beliefs.
“With the spirituality aspect of our work, we pay close attention to the concerns and beliefs of patients,” she stated.
Dr. Parker Adams noted that some patients may interpret certain illnesses spiritually even when there are clear medical explanations for the condition.
“For instance, someone may come to the hospital with a swollen leg which medically could be caused by a blood clot, but the person may believe it is spiritual because they were told they stepped on something in front of someone’s house,” she explained.
According to her, family physicians use special assessment tools to better understand the background, beliefs, and expectations of patients before treatment is provided.
“We ask about the person’s object of worship, religious practices, what their church permits or does not permit, and whether any of those beliefs may affect the medical care we are trying to provide,” she said.
She explained that these approaches help doctors carefully address patients’ spiritual concerns while also educating them about the medical realities behind their illnesses.
“In many cases, once patients understand that the condition is medical and not a curse, they become more willing to take their medication properly, and their recovery improves significantly,” she added.
Dr. Parker Adams further explained that family medicine goes beyond treating individual patients and also considers the wellbeing of the patient’s family and community.
“One important thing about family medicine is that we do not only see the patient as an individual. We also consider the family and the wider community the person comes from,” she stated.
Using malaria as an example, she said treatment alone is not enough if preventive measures are not extended to other members of the household who may also be at risk.
“That is why family physicians go beyond treating the individual patient to educating the entire family on prevention,” she noted.
She advised families to adopt preventive measures such as clearing stagnant water, cleaning bushy surroundings, using mosquito repellents, wearing protective clothing, and sleeping under treated mosquito nets.
According to her, such interventions help protect not only patients but entire households and communities from preventable illnesses.
She added that this year’s World Family Doctor Day is being observed under the theme: “Strengthening Primary Health Care through Compassion and Digital Innovation.”
