Regional aspects of inter-institutional interaction between medicine and religion in the context of palliative care: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Palliative care is an interdisciplinary activity that focuses on providing physical, mental, social, and spiritual support. In situations of uncertainty associated with life-threatening conditions, spiritual and religious support for patients is a central component of palliative care.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze regional aspects of inter-institutional interaction between medicine and religion (using the example of the Russian Orthodox Church) in the context of palliative care.

METHODS: To examine the trends in inter-institutional interaction between medicine and religion in the provision of palliative care to patients, the method of narrative interview (n = 7) was used, conducted in 2025. The sociological study on Trends in Inter-institutional Interaction Between Medicine and Religion (using the example of the Russian Orthodox Church) in the Region analyzed the narratives of priests from hospital churches in the Saratov region.

RESULTS: Analysis of the narrative interviews revealed several key thematic narratives: low social efficiency and the need for reform of the current healthcare system; a low level of spirituality within the medical community; the consideration of spirituality in the context of religiosity, which aids patient recovery; the regulation of interaction between the Church and medical organizations through regulatory documents; and restrictions on patients' rights to visits from priests in medical organization inpatient settings, stemming from the lack of faith among medical staff, non-believing relatives of the patient, and non-believing patients sharing the same room.

CONCLUSION: In modern Russia, religious organizations, primarily the Russian Orthodox Church, interact with the healthcare system in the provision of palliative care. A legal framework regulating the inter-institutional interaction between medicine and religion has been developed. Limitations in the interaction between medicine and religion in providing palliative care within medical organizations will have an adverse impact on patients' quality of life and life prospects.

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About the authors

Galina N. Bochkareva

Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky

Email: bofrida2023@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1990-7182
SPIN-code: 3048-7832
Russian Federation, Saratov

Anton A. Dubgorin

Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky

Email: anton.dubgorin@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1114-7246
SPIN-code: 8323-2440
Russian Federation, Saratov

Alexander A. Voiteshak

Branch of the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy

Email: voyteshak.a@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9438-4492
SPIN-code: 2181-2133

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Moscow

Marina V. Yerugina

Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky

Email: lab48@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8743-4500
SPIN-code: 7016-3160

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, Saratov

Irina L. Krom

Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky

Author for correspondence.
Email: irina.crom@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1355-5163
SPIN-code: 4854-1094

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, Saratov

Elena A. Andriyanova

Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky

Email: elena-andriyanova@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6250-8331
SPIN-code: 8378-3460

Dr. Sci. (Sociology), Professor

Russian Federation, Saratov

Alexander S. Fedonnikov

Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky

Email: fedonnikov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0344-4419
SPIN-code: 2248-5246

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Saratov

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СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
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