Training well-rounded healthcare professionals through developing religious/spiritual competencies: a grounded theory study in Iran

Given the growing role of humanistic components in medicine and the significance of religion/ spirituality in healthcare, medical practitioners must acquire religious/ spiritual competencies. This study aimed to develop and present a paradigmatic model for fostering religious/spiritual competencies within Iran's medical education system. The study was conducted in 2022 at Qom University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Using a qualitative grounded-theory approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 medical education experts (each with ≥ 5 years of experience). Data analysis included open, axial, and selective coding that were performed through constant comparisons to identify main themes and represent their interrelationships as a model. Integrity -the coherent integration of religious and spiritual values into clinical practice and decision-making- emerged as the main theme or core category of the study, around which other categories were formed and organized to form a paradigmatic model: Motives: Islamic spirituality, Persian medicine tradition, global experiences, and future trends; Strategies: paradigm shift, collaboration, integration, and interdisciplinary approach; Intervening Conditions: conceptual differences and dynamic environment; and finally the Consequences: transcendence, patient-centeredness, and accountability. This was considered in a multilayer context. The proposed model provides a roadmap for integrating religious/spiritual training into medical education, highlights key enablers and barriers, and suggests that targeted interventions can enhance practitioners' integrity. Limitations include the study's focus on Iranian institutions; future research should validate the model across diverse cultural and healthcare settings.