Health Professionals' Approaches to Spirituality and Religiosity in Brazil: A Study Based on Item Response Theory

This study aimed to estimate the proportion of Brazilian nurses, doctors, and psychologists who approach spirituality and religiosity (S/R) issues in professional practice. The study also explored these health professionals' willingness to interact with patients on issues related to S/R in their clinical practice using item response theory (IRT). From a nationwide cross-sectional web survey, demographic data and the opinions of doctors, nurses, and psychologists were collected regarding aspects related to S/R. For this study, the willingness of physicians to interact with patients regarding the S/R issues scale, developed by the Network for Research Spirituality and Health and translated into Brazilian Portuguese, was used. Information was adjusted according to the IRT. Of the 1095 participants, 335 (30.6%) were nurses, 433 (39.5%), doctors, and 327 (29.9%) were psychologists. The areas of activity with the most significant representation were primary healthcare (n = 292, 26.7%) and mental health (n = 296, 27.0%). A total of 76 (22.7%) nurses, 152 (35.1%) doctors, and 112 (34.3%) psychologists often or always asked about S/R in professional practice. There was a significant difference in the frequency of approach by nurses compared to doctors (p < 0.001) and psychologists (p = 0.001). Doctors were more willing to approach S/R, with a statistically significant difference between nurses (DM - 0.72, 95% CI BCa [- 1.38 to - 0.11]) and psychologists (DM 1.44, 95% CI BCa (0.76-2.11)]. This study should encourage a more comprehensive approach to human beings, contributing to more profound research in Brazil and worldwide.