TABLE 3. Psychiatrists Versus Nonpsychiatrists: Addressing Religion/Spirituality in Clinical Practice.

Questionnaire Item	Response Category	Psychiatrists (weighted %)	Other Physicians (weighted %)	Analysis
				p (χ2)
Inquiry
In general, is it appropriate or inappropriate for a   physician to inquire about a patient’s religion/   spirituality?				<0.0001
	Usually or always appropriate	93	53
	Usually or always inappropriate	7	47
Do you ever inquire about patients’ religious/   spiritual issues?				<0.0001
	Yes	87	49
	No	13	51
How often do you inquire when a patient suffers   from anxiety or depression?				<0.0001
	Rarely or never	21	57
	Sometimes	35	29
	Often or always	44	14
Dialogue
In general, is it appropriate or inappropriate for a   physician to discuss religious/spiritual issues   when a patient brings them up?				0.05
	Usually or always appropriate	97	91
	Usually or always inappropriate	3	9
When, if ever, is it appropriate for a physician to   talk about his or her own religious beliefs or   experiences with a patient?				<0.05
	Never	20	13
	Only when the patient asks	32	44
	Whenever the physician senses…a	48	43
I encourage patients in their own religious/   spiritual beliefs and practices…b				0.11
	Rarely or never	4	8
	Sometimes	13	19
	Often or always	83	73
I respectfully share my own religious ideas and   experiences…b				<0.01
	Rarely or never	74	58
	Sometimes	24	29
	Often or always	2	12
I try to change the subject in a tactful way…b				<0.01
	Rarely or never	90	74
	Sometimes	7	20
	Often or always	2	6
Prayer
When, if ever, is it appropriate for a physician to   pray with a patient?				<0.0001
	Never	34	16
	Only when the patient asks	34	54
	Whenever the physician senses…a	32	29
I pray with the patient…b				<0.01
	Rarely or never	94	80
	Sometimes	5	16
	Often or always	1	4
Barriers
Do any of the following discourage you from   discussing religion/spirituality with patients?   (check all that apply)
	Insufficient time	35	48	0.02
	Concern about offending patients	25	41	<0.01
	Insufficient knowledge/training	25	26	0.80
	General discomfort	13	24	0.02
	Concern that colleagues will disapprove	3	4	0.61

^aFollowed by “it would be appropriate.”

^bFollowed by “when religious/spiritual issues come up in discussions with patients.”