| A randomized, controlled trial of the effects of remote, intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients admitted to the coronary care unit. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 10547166 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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CONTEXT: Intercessory prayer (praying for others) has been a common response to sickness for millennia, but it has received little scientific attention. The positive findings of a previous controlled trial of intercessory prayer have yet to be replicated. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether remote, intercessory prayer for hospitalized, cardiac patients will reduce overall adverse events and length of stay. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, double-blind, prospective, parallel-group trial. SETTING: Private, university-associated hospital. PATIENTS: Nine hundred ninety consecutive patients who were newly admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU). INTERVENTION: At the time of admission, patients were randomized to receive remote, intercessory prayer (prayer group) or not (usual care group). The first names of patients in the prayer group were given to a team of outside intercessors who prayed for them daily for 4 weeks. Patients were unaware that they were being prayed for, and the intercessors did not know and never met the patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The medical course from CCU admission to hospital discharge was summarized in a CCU course score derived from blinded, retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Compared with the usual care group (n = 524), the prayer group (n = 466) had lower mean +/- SEM weighted (6.35 +/- 0.26 vs 7.13 +/- 0.27; P=.04) and unweighted (2.7 +/- 0.1 vs 3.0 +/- 0.1; P=.04) CCU course scores. Lengths of CCU and hospital stays were not different. CONCLUSIONS: Remote, intercessory prayer was associated with lower CCU course scores. This result suggests that prayer may be an effective adjunct to standard medical care. |
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Authors:
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W S Harris; M Gowda; J W Kolb; C P Strychacz; J L Vacek; P G Jones; A Forker; J H O'Keefe; B D McCallister |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Archives of internal medicine Volume: 159 ISSN: 0003-9926 ISO Abbreviation: Arch. Intern. Med. Publication Date: 1999 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1999-11-17 Completed Date: 1999-11-17 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0372440 Medline TA: Arch Intern Med Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 2273-8 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
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Mid America Heart Institute, Saint Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Aged Coronary Care Units Double-Blind Method Female Heart Diseases / complications*, therapy Hospitals, University Humans Length of Stay Male Middle Aged Missouri Prospective Studies Religion* Severity of Illness Index Treatment Outcome |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1870; author reply 1877-8
[PMID:
10871985
]
Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1876; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871996 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1873-4; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871991 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1870; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871984 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1870-1; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871986 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1871-2; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871987 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1872; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871988 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1872-3; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871989 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1873; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871990 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1874; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871992 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1875; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871994 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1875; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871993 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1877; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871998 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1876-7; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871997 ] Arch Intern Med. 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1875-6; author reply 1877-8 [PMID: 10871995 ] |
Erratum In:
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Arch Intern Med 2000 Jun 26;160(12):1878 |
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