Measuring spirituality and religiosity in clinical research

a systematic review of instruments available in the Portuguese language

Authors

  • Giancarlo Lucchetti Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo
  • Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo
  • Homero Vallada Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo

Keywords:

Religion and medicine, Spirituality, Psychometrics, Review [publication type], Medical history taking

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: Despite numerous spirituality and/or religiosity (S/R) measurement tools for use in research worldwide, there is little information on S/R instruments in the Portuguese language. The aim of the present study was to map out the S/R scales available for research in the Portuguese language. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review of studies found in databases. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in three phases. Phases 1 and 2: articles in Portuguese, Spanish and English, published up to November 2011, dealing with the Portuguese translation and/or validation of S/R measurement tools for clinical research, were selected from six databases. Phase 3: the instruments were grouped according to authorship, cross-cultural adaptation, internal consistency, concurrent and discriminative validity and test-retest procedures. RESULTS: Twenty instruments were found. Forty-five percent of these evaluated religiosity, 40% spirituality, 10% religious/spiritual coping and 5% S/R. Among these, 90% had been produced in (n = 3) or translated to (n = 15) Brazilian Portuguese and two (10%) solely to European Portuguese. Nevertheless, the majority of the instruments had not undergone in-depth psychometric analysis. Only 40% of the instruments presented concurrent validity, 45% discriminative validity and 15% a test-retest procedure. The characteristics of each instrument were analyzed separately, yielding advantages, disadvantages and psychometric properties. CONCLUSION: Currently, 20 instruments for measuring S/R are available in the Portuguese language. Most have been translated (n = 15) or developed (n = 3) in Brazil and present good internal consistency. Nevertheless, few instruments have been assessed regarding all their psychometric qualities.

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Author Biographies

Giancarlo Lucchetti, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo

MD, PhD. Specialist in Geriatrics. Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Research Collaborator of João Evangelista Hospital and São Paulo Medical Spiritist Association, São Paulo, Brazil.

Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo

MD. Specialist in Geriatrics. Member of the Research Department of São Paulo Medical Spiritist Association, João Evangelista Hospital and MBA Student at Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Homero Vallada, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo

MD, PhD. Specialist in Psychiatry. Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

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Published

2013-03-03

How to Cite

1.
Lucchetti G, Lucchetti ALG, Vallada H. Measuring spirituality and religiosity in clinical research: a systematic review of instruments available in the Portuguese language. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2013 Mar. 3 [cited 2026 Sep. 18];131(2):112-2. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/1276

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Original Article