Spirituality and Medicine in the USA, Europe, and the UK: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Integrative Approaches to Patient Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Health Outcomes.
Journal of religion and health February 1, 2026 Arbind Kumar Choudhary, R Abirami
A systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies from the USA, Europe, and China found that spiritual interventions—including meditation, prayer, mindfulness, and compassionate care—significantly reduce anxiety (effect size 0.70), improve quality of life (effect size 0.75), and provide moderate benefits for chronic disease symptoms (effect size 0.65). Patient satisfaction with spiritual support consistently exceeded 80%, with highest ratings in palliative care. Stronger effects appeared among older adults, those with chronic illness, and participants in meditation-based programs. The findings support integrating spiritual care into patient-centered health models.