National Prayer in Medicine Survey

About the Study

This study was conducted as a graduate research project and was personally funded with no conflicts of interest or sponsors. To read more about the graduate student, please click here.

Why Was This Study Needed?

Findings from an extensive scientific literature review showed a need for data from a United States survey to determine whether further progress towards standardization of a holistic approach in medical clinical practice is indicated through the incorporation of spirituality by introducing spiritual assessment tools and resources for patients that include use of prayer and its associated benefits.

Please click here to read more about the background of spiritual components and prayer in medicine.

Study Status

Study conducted between Nov 1 and Nov 30, 2010. Results published online October 2011.

Study Objectives:

To establish how often people in the United States pray and whether those prayers are for healing purposes.

To determine frequency of spiritual history taking and discussion on prayer in current medical clinical practice.

To determine perceptions regarding inclusion of prayer as a component of medical care.

To examine spiritual assessment questions for use in social / spiritual history-taking.

To ascertain appropriate sources of spirituality and prayer resources and referral information for patients.

Study Design:

The study was conducted via an online survey questionnaire as the most efficient and cost-effective way to reach participants across the United States. Study participants were recruited via social networking by the investigator, including advertisements displayed on Facebook (www.facebook.com) which included a link to the online survey and eligibility criteria on the study web site (www.prayerinmedicine.com). To participate in the study, subjects must have acknowledged that they reside within the United States of America and were at least 18 years of age or older. No personal or identifying data were collected from subjects other than basic demographics (gender, marital status, age, state of residency, level of education). The study was conducted from November 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010.