The Article in Brief

The 3 H and BMSEST Models for Spirituality in Multicultural Whole-Person Medicine

Gowri Anandarajah

Background There is growing interest in both whole-person care (which addresses the patient's body, mind, and spirit) and the role of spirituality in patient care. However, there are few comprehensive models of spirituality tailored to daily patient care needs. This article provides a theoretical framework, aimed at clinicians, educators and researchers, addressing how spirituality fits into whole-person health care.

What This Study Found Two models provide a basis for approaching spirituality in whole-person medicine. The 3 H model of spirituality (head, heart, hands) offers a multidimensional definition of spirituality, which can be applied across cultures and belief systems, with a common vocabulary. The BMSEST (body, mind, Spirit, environment, social, transcendent) models provide a framework for the role of spirituality in the larger health care context, useful for patient care, education, and research.

Implications

• Given the complexities of the human condition, the future study of whole-person care will require research methods and approaches from many disciplines, including science, social science, and the humanities.
• Although challenging, there are many opportunities to find common ground between different world views and ways to provide cure, relief, and comfort to patients.