Physician Offered Prayer and Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

This small pilot trial demonstrated that patient responses to spiritual interventions by physicians can be evaluated using randomized study designs. A large majority of patients accepted an offer of physician-led prayer, but no significant short-term impact on patient satisfaction was detected. Future research with larger sample sizes and more diverse patient populations should evaluate the effects of physician-offered prayer on the physician-patient relationship. Difficulties in conducting such research are discussed.

Do patients want doctors to talk about spirituality? A systematic literature review

“…Interest increased with education, private insurance, personal religiosity (measured as frequency of attendance at religious services and personal prayer), less intensity of spiritual interaction and increased severity of patient illness. (8,9,29,37,38,40,47) Geographic location and ethnicity also influenced patient interest in R/S discussion, with studies from areas with a high rate of religiosity, such as southeast USA, and studies of African American populations (36,40,42) reporting high rates of interest. One study (19) that did not find the correlation between interest in R/S discussions and church attendance had a relatively healthy sample population.…”

“…(66-68)Doctor-initiated patient-doctor prayer was discussed in 15 studies. It was viewed positively by a range of 6.5-100% patients,(9,25,32,36,37,40,42,45,53,56,59,60,62,63,65) and 28-71% of patients thought it was appropriate for the doctor to pray for them at least some of the time (32,40,62,63). Prayer was more likely to be desired by those who were female, more religious or spiritual, of Roman Catholic faith, and/or facing more serious illness (37,40,63).…”

Addressing religion and spirituality in health care systems.

“…This offer did not have a significant short-term impact on patient satisfaction scores (Mann et al, 2005). Patients were primarily African American females, a more religious subset of the general population (Levin, Taylor, & Chatters, 1994), and thus the generalizability of these results is unknown.…”

“…A randomized-controlled trial of 137 family practice patients demonstrated that 90% of patients accepted their physician's offer to briefly pray for them. This offer did not have a significant short-term impact on patient satisfaction scores (Mann et al, 2005). Patients were primarily African American females, a more religious subset of the general population (Levin, Taylor, & Chatters, 1994), and thus the generalizability of these results is unknown.…”

Becoming A Holistic Social Worker: An Autoethnography

“…In addition, there is a positive correlation between a patient's interest in spiritual care from physicians and severity of the illness. In another study, physicians offered to pray on behalf of patients and almost all of the patients accepted the offer (Mann et al, 2005). The implication of these studies are patients feel spiritual care from physicians is important; it is acceptable for physicians to pray on behalf of patients; and formal training in spiritual care is not required for physicians.…”