The Patient Power of Prayer
April 27, 2004(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research from Harvard University in Boston shows many adults are using more than prescriptions to make their health condition better.
About one-third of adults use prayer, in addition to standard medical care and alternative therapies, to help their health issues.
Of the 35 percent of adults in a national survey who said they prayed for their health, 75 percent prayed for wellness, and 22 percent prayed for specific medical conditions. Participants who were older than age 33, female, attained an education beyond high school, had depression, chronic headaches, back and/or neck pain, digestive problems, or allergies were all more likely to use prayer.
Investigators found people who pray for their health report high levels of perceived helpfulness but rarely discuss their use of prayer with their physicians. Authors of the study write, “Physicians should consider exploring their patients’ spiritual practice to enhance their understanding of their patients’ response to illness and health.”
Researchers say there may be several reasons why prayer is so commonly used. Previous studies suggest older people often rely on religion to help cope with stressful life events, including health issues. Religion and prayer may help people understand the meaning of events, especially those that are painful, troubling or unexpected. Prayer and spirituality may improve quality of life by providing coping strategies, stress relief, and social support.
While there is no proven therapeutic efficacy of prayer, researchers have observed associations between spirituality and better health outcomes.
SOURCE: The Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004;164:858-862
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