The Article in Brief

Do Religious Physicians Disproportionately Care for the Underserved?

Farr A. Curlin, MD, and colleagues

Background Many religions encourage their members to care for people who are poor and marginalized. This study looks at religious characteristics and a sense of calling among doctors. In particular, it examines whether doctors who are more religious, and/or who view their practice of medicine as a calling, are also more likely to care for underserved patients.

What This Study Found Doctors who report that they practice among the underserved describe themselves as highly spiritual. Their religious beliefs tend to influence their practice of medicine, and they tend to come from families that emphasize serving the poor. Doctors who are more religious in general are more likely to view the practice of medicine as a calling but not more likely to practice among the underserved.

Implications

• Doctors who are more religious do not care for the underserved more than other doctors. Those who report being highly spiritual, however, are more likely to report practice among the underserved.
• The authors call for ongoing research over the course of doctors’ medical training to determine how their religious and spiritual commitments, sense of calling, and other factors lead some, but not others, to practice among the underserved.