Ab1686-Pare Beyond Science: Spiritual Influence on the Acceptance of Rheumatic Diseases

Background: Spirituality, as a set of immaterial emotions and convictions, plays a significant role in health and well-being. Patients with serious or chronic illnesses, including rheumatic diseases (RMD), may rely on spirituality to cope with their diagnosis. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the role of spirituality in the perception of rheumatic disease during the diagnostic announcement and determine factors associated with this dimension. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in our rheumatology department, involving patients with RMD. Sociodemographic data (age, socioeconomic status, marital status, education level, and religious status) as well as disease characteristics and its impact were collected. A questionnaire on the role of spirituality during the diagnostic announcement was administered to the patients. Results: A total of 50 patients (39 women,11 men) with a mean age of 52.4 ± 14.8 years were included. Nine patients (20%) had a low socioeconomic status, 36 (78%) were married, and 22 (44%) had dependent children. The majority (48%, n=24) were housewives. Regarding education, 5 patients were illiterate, 17 (34%) had primary education, while 7 (14%) had university degrees.All patients were believers. Twenty-five patients (50%) had rheumatoid arthritis, 15 had spondylarthritis, 4 (8%) had psoriatic arthritis, and 2 with undifferentiated inflammatory disease. The average disease duration was 8.5 ± 6.5 years [1 - 35]. The disease was deforming or ankylosing in 60% of patients (n=30), and active disease was observed in 30 patients (60%). For 29 patients (58%), a close relationship between spirituality and the disease was evident, while 4 patients considered no such connection existed. An approach considering the spiritual dimension of patients was adopted by 37 physicians. For 27 patients (54%), a spiritually infused discourse from the doctor at the time of diagnosis contributed to fostering disease acceptance. In contrast, 13 patients (26%) did not feel a positive impact from this spiritual approach, while 10 others (20%) preferred exclusively scientific communication. Twenty patients (40%) considered it important to integrate spirituality into their care plan, while 18 (36%) were indifferent, and 12 patients expressed a preference for a strictly scientific approach. Explored factors such as age, age at diagnosis, gender, profession, socioeconomic status, marital status, or education level did not seem to have a significant impact on the relationship between spirituality and the perception of the disease (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of spirituality in how patients perceive and accept rheumatic diseases. Therefore, it is essential for rheumatologists to adopt a holistic approach, considering the physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of their patients. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.