Does prayer or meditation improve a clients physical or mental health?

Does prayer or meditation improve a clients physical or mental health?An evidenced based research presentation.

By Mary DeWitt, Rick Loenser, Dawn Koolman and Terri Sand

Why is this important?Prayer promoting good health. (Narayansam & Narayansamy, 2008)

Nurses, as health professionals could play an important role by praying with or for, patients.(Narayansamy & Narayanasamy, 2008)

Evidence will support positive outcomes in patients physical conditions .

OverviewWhat is prayer?PetitionaryIntercessoryAdorationRitual PrayerMeditative PrayerColloquoil prayerWhat is Meditation?Ritual and process to spiritual transformation(Young & Koopsen, 2011, pg70-74)

Prayer and health

Effects of PrayerCopingArrest the progression of illnessRemission or complete healing(Young & Koopsen, 2011)

Literature ReviewResearch article: Healing Through PrayerQualitative StudyApproachesSemi-structured interview 20 participantsWatsons Theoretical FrameworkParticipants from several denominations

Findings5 main cluster themesSubthemesSummary of participant responsesLearning obtained

(Blasko, 2011)

Literature ReviewResearch article: Healing Through PrayerQualitative StudyLimitationsLimited participantsUnequal gender distributionLack of cultural diversityNarrowed scope of interview

(Blasko, 2011)

CredibilityValidated experiences of healing through prayerParticipants experienced healingResearchers experienced life-altering inspirationPrayer enhances spiritual phenomenon and healing

Literature ReviewPrivate prayer as a suitable intervention for hospitalized patients: a critical review of the literatureApproachesLiterature based studySystematic approachKey wordsBroad data base for literature searchOriginal researchPersonal prayer

FindingsKey variablesPrivate prayer Frequency of prayerReligiosityDemographicsPrayer origination

(Honeywell, 2008)

Literature ReviewPrivate prayer as a suitable intervention for hospitalized patients: a critical review of the literature

LimitationsLacks a defined Theoretical FrameworkNo controlled trialsLimited effectiveness of prayerEvidence reliant on methodological approachSample bias

CredibilityEvidence supports association between prayer and well-beingActive participation in prayer leads to better health Private devotional prayer associated with decreased depression and anxiety(Honeywell, 2008)

Literature reviewTheoretical models of the nature of prayer and health: A review

Approaches

Findings

Empirical studies The authors use many perspectives for the reviews of the studiesMany prayer typesMany different models

Effects of prayer:PhysiologicalPsychologicalSpiritualSalutary

(Breslin, 2008)

Literature reviewTheoretical models of the nature of prayer and health: A review

Limitations

Credibility

Unknown number of participantsNo statistics offeredAuthors and reviewers give suggestionsMany prayer types

With many different authors, they have different findings A critical exam of past literature was conducted

(Breslin, 2008)

Conclusions and Implications for PracticePrayer is beneficial for health. Young & Koopsen (2011) state, Prayer can profoundly affect the healing process. Research demonstrates that religious practices such as worship attendance and prayer may contribute to physical and emotional health (p. 72). Research has demonstrated that regular prayer, scripture reading, or study provides health benefits (Matthews, 2000).

Conclusions and Implications for Practice (cont.)These might affect health evidence suggests that the strongest impact of religion and spirituality on health is its preventive effect in healthy people (Chida, Steptoe, & Powell, 2009; Powell, Shahabi, & Thoresen, 2003), but religion/spirituality had also been shown to be a coping resource in diseased patients (Powell et al.).Guthlin, Anton, Kruse, and Walach (2011) states, Our results support data that imply the existence of a psychophysical pathway in healing through spiritual rituals, and gave subjective insight into the perspective of patients (p. 328).

Conclusions and Implications for Practice (cont.)Research strongly supports the use of prayer as an alternative therapy for healing. Limitations are present but the benefits heavily outweigh the weaknesses. Prayer enhances spiritual phenomenon and healing

References

Chida, Y., Steptoe, A., & Powell, L. H. (2009). Religiosity/spirituality and mortality. A systematic quantitative review. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 78(2), 81-90. doi:10.1159/000190791

Gthlin, C., Anton, A., Kruse, J. and Walach, H. (2011). Subjective Concepts of Chronically Ill Patients Using Distant Healing. Qualitative Health Research, 22(3), 320331. DOI: 10.1177/1049732311421914

Matthews, D. S. (2000). Prayer and spirituality. Rheumatic Diseases of North American, 26(1), 177-187.

Narayanasamy, A., & Narayansamy, M. (2008). The healing power of prayer and its implications for nursing. British Journal of Nursing, 17(6), 394-398.

Powell, L. H., Shahabi, L., & Thoresen, C. E. (2003). Religion and spirituality: Linkages to physical health. American Psychologist, 58(1), 36-52. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.36

References (cont.)

Taylor, E. J. (2002). Spiritual care. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Young, C., & Koopsen, C. (2011). Spirituality, Health, and Healing: An Integrative Approach (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Annotated BibliographyBlaszko Helming, M., (2011). Healing Through Prayer. Holistic Nursing Practice, 25(1), 33-44. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0b013e3181fe2697

Mary Blaszko Helming, PhD, FNP, AHN-BC, Department of Nursing, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut.

This qualitative study approached the topic of healing through prayer amongst interviewed participants. Care providers were the intended audience for the research outcomes. The participants of the study were all affiliated with Christian churches of several denominations. The research focused on the participants experience with prayer and its influence on their personal medical conditions. Tables were presented displaying the interview guide questions, demographics of the participants, theme categories, and their subthemes. Their outcomes are discussed and the aspects of prayer are applied to their degree of healing.The study recognizes biass of the interview population in terms of age, gender, demographics, and culture. Annotated BibliographyBreslin, Michael J. . & Lewis, Christopher A. (2008). Theoretical models of the nature of prayer and health: A review. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 11:1, 9-21. doi.org/10.1080/13674670701491449Michael J. Breslin, School of Psychology, University of Ulster at Magee College, Londonderry, UK.Christopher A. Lewis, Glyndwr UniversityThis article looks at many perspectives and suggests how prayer has an effect on health. It states numerous ways on how prayer can effect health from a physiological, psychological and spiritual aspect. It refers to many different types of prayers and its focus is on caregivers as the intended audience.Since there are many perspectives that have suggestions on how prayer effects health, the source for this article would be biased. A special feature of this article is that it reviews theoretical models of prayer and their effects on health. The goal of this source is to enlighten people on the effects of prayer. This article was very informative about the many different effects that prayer has on health. This has helped me to realize how powerful prayer really is.

Annotated BibliographyHollywell, C., & Walker, J., (2008). Private prayer as a suitable intervention for hospitalized patients: a critical review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 637-651. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02510.xClare Hollywell, BN, RN, staff Nurse and Missionary Nurse, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. Jan Walker, BSC, PhD, RN, RHV, C. Psychol, FHEA, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UKThe focus of the research was to collect evidence supporting the use of private prayer to improve the wellbeing for adult hospitalized patients. One of the authors initiated the study due to her commitment to religion and her belief in the power of prayer. The research was conducted through a review of literature following a systematic approach. Limitations identified in the study were a lack of experimental research, sample bias, and a theoretical framework model. The study, intended for healthcare providers, identified evidence that there is a positive association between prayer and wellbeing. A table presenting the publications reviewed and their key findings are included in the article.