SPIRITUALITY IN MEDICAL EDUCATION IN BRAZIL: LITERATURE REVIEW

Sofia Pires de Lima; Lorenzo Lago

Todos os Trabalhos

Trabalho

Título do Trabalho

SPIRITUALITY IN MEDICAL EDUCATION IN BRAZIL: LITERATURE REVIEW

Autores

Sofia Pires de Lima
Lorenzo Lago

Modalidade

Resumo

Área temática

Saúde e Espiritualidade

Data de Publicação

21/08/2026

País da Publicação

Brasil

Idioma da Publicação

pt-BR

Página do Trabalho

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/xxvii-fiamc-world-congress-for-catholic-physicians-abstract-session-688844/1518202-spirituality-in-medical-education-in-brazil--literature-review

ISBN

978-65-272-2684-0

Palavras-Chave

Curricular guideliines, Spirituality, Medical Formation

Resumo

Introduction and Objective The National Curriculum Guidelines (DCN) of 2014 for Brazilian medical schools emphasize a humanistic, critical, and ethical training aimed at integral care. Although the DCNs do not explicitly mention "spirituality," they advocate for a multidimensional approach to the health-disease process, including cultural and popular health practices. The healthcare system, particularly Primary Care, could benefit significantly from incorporating these dimensions, which are often linked to religious or spiritual meaning systems. This study aims to map the discussion regarding the inclusion of spirituality in Brazilian medical education following the 2014 DCNs. Methodology An exploratory literature review with content analysis was conducted. The search targeted articles (Human, Social, and Health Sciences) and academic papers (theses/dissertations) published between 2014 and 2023, specifically focusing on the Brazilian context. Using databases such as SciELO, Capes, and Semantic Scholar, descriptors like “Spirituality and Medical Education” and “Medical Education and Curriculum Guidelines” were applied. From an initial pool of 135 articles, 11 were selected for the final synthesis. Results and Discussion The analysis revealed that "Spirituality" and "Religiosity" are central themes in the literature, appearing in all selected studies. While the DCNs provide a conceptual opening for discussing the multidimensionality of care, the explicit absence of spirituality in regulatory documents contributes to its marginalization in curricula. The review identifies a significant gap: while the positive influence of spirituality on health is recognized, and students/residents express high interest, very few medical programs or residency courses offer structured training on the subject. Consequently, students feel unprepared to address spiritual needs in clinical practice. In the absence of formal academic content, many students resort to personal religious backgrounds or informal exchanges, which lack the necessary conceptual and professional rigor. This underscores the urgent need for pedagogical proposals that integrate spirituality systematically into medical curricula. Conclusion Despite the DCNs’ push for comprehensive healthcare, the spiritual dimension remains underestimated and displaced in Brazilian medical education. The lack of academic literature and formal training creates a void that impacts both student preparation and patient care. To bridge this gap, further research is required to understand this reality better and to facilitate the concrete incorporation of spirituality and religiosity into the medical curriculum, ensuring a truly multidimensional approach to health.

Título do Evento: XXVII FIAMC World Congress for Catholic Physicians - ABSTRACT SESSION
Cidade do Evento: Brasília
Título dos Anais do Evento: Proceedings of the XXVII FIAMC World Congress of Catholic Physicians and VI Brazilian Congress of Catholic Physicians
Nome da Editora: Even3
Meio de Divulgação: Meio Digital

Como citar

LIMA, Sofia Pires de; LAGO, Lorenzo. SPIRITUALITY IN MEDICAL EDUCATION IN BRAZIL: LITERATURE REVIEW.. In: Proceedings of the XXVII FIAMC World Congress of Catholic Physicians and VI Brazilian Congress of Catholic Physicians. Anais...Brasília(DF) Casa Dom Luciano, 2026. Disponível em: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/xxvii-fiamc-world-congress-for-catholic-physicians-abstract-session-688844/1518202-SPIRITUALITY-IN-MEDICAL-EDUCATION-IN-BRAZIL--LITERATURE-REVIEW. Acesso em: 13/09/2026