A Survey of the Holistic Healthcare Approach by Healthcare Providers at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Background A holistic approach to healthcare treats the full person, not just the sickness or symptoms. This means taking care of their physical, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual needs. The relationship between healthcare providers and patients is built on respect, openness, equality, and mutuality. We conducted this study to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices about the holistic healthcare approach among healthcare workers at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methodology A prospective, questionnaire-based survey study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital after Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Data were collected over two months (October-November 2025) using a validated questionnaire covering three domains (knowledge, attitude, and practice), which was distributed through Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages, and inferential statistics were performed using the chi-square test. Results A total of 222 healthcare providers participated. Doctors comprised 128 (57.7%), and nursing staff comprised 94 (42.3%) participants. Overall, 222 (100%) respondents correctly answered that all healthcare team members (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, etc.) should provide holistic care. The majority expressed agreement that emotional support is as important as medicines, with 101 (45.5%) strongly agreeing. In practice, most participants addressed emotional concerns and involved family members; however, 183 (82.4%) had not received formal training in holistic healthcare. The chi-square test showed that the answers to the statements about attitude and questions about practice were statistically different (p < 0.05). Conclusions Healthcare providers have excellent knowledge and positive attitudes toward holistic healthcare, with generally good practices. However, limited formal training and workload barriers highlight the need for regular training programs to strengthen holistic care delivery.