SMA Disclosure Policy and Conflict of Interest Resolution:
It is SMA's policy that all individuals involved with the planning and implementation of the content of an SMA CME/CE activity are required to disclose to the audience (1) any relevant financial relationships with entities producing healthcare goods or services consumed by or used on patients, and (2) unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices discussed in their presentation. Conflicts of Interest will be resolved prior to the activity and disclosures will be noted on a slide at the beginning of the lectures and in the program information.

Target Audience:
Physicians of all specialties and practices, medical students, residents, clinical pastoral education residents, nurses, social workers, hospital chaplains, counselors and ministerial staff affiliated with hospitals.

Purpose/Need:

New research suggests that most physicians are willing to discuss religious or spiritual issues with their patients, but most will wait on the patient to bring up the conversation.  Physicians with strong religious or spiritual beliefs are more likely to initiate this conversation.  However, it is unlikely they will recommend prayer or will pray with a patient.  More than 90% of physicians say it is appropriate to discuss religious or spiritual issues with their patients.  How a physician approaches this issue depends on their own beliefs. 

Learning Objectives:

1.  Review the debate regarding physicians addressing religion/spirituality in the doctor-patient relationship

2.  Identify new proposals regarding dialog between physician and patient

Activity Evaluation:
Participants may evaluate this activity by rating statements located on the CME Credit/Evaluation form.