Avaliação da influência das crenças religiosas e espirituais em pacientes com zumbido crônico subjetivo

Abstract

Introduction: Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external source and is often associated with an impact on quality of life. Its prevalence in Brazil reaches 31.6%, with a higher occurrence among older adults and individuals with comorbidities. Due to its subjective nature and the incomplete understanding of its pathophysiology, tinnitus management is challenging. Religious and spiritual beliefs influence mental health and quality of life in several chronic diseases, but research on this relationship in tinnitus is still scarce. Objectives: To assess the association of religious and spiritual beliefs with the impact of chronic subjective tinnitus (CST), quality of life, and mental health in patients with this condition. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of specialized services under the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) in Juiz de Fora, involving CST patients from June 2022 to October 2024. Patients underwent clinical evaluations and completed validated questionnaires to measure CST severity (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory), quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref), mental health (DASS-21), and religiosity and spirituality (PDUREL, FACIT-Sp12, and SRCOPE-14). Linear regression models were used to assess the association between religiosity and spirituality (R/S) variables and outcomes in quality of life, mental health, and tinnitus severity. Results: The analysis included 313 patients. R/S aspects showed different associations with tinnitus impact: intrinsic religiosity and negative religious coping were directly associated with tinnitus severity, while aspects of spiritual wellbeing, such as Meaning and Peace, were inversely associated with its impact. Furthermore, spiritual well-being showed favorable outcomes in mental health and quality of life. Conclusion: Religious and spiritual beliefs can significantly influence the perception of tinnitus severity, mental health, and quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of healthcare professionals understanding their patients’ beliefs to provide more holistic care