Introduction
Background Study
Prayer is the communication with a being considered more powerful with the belief in the existence of the being and with the aim of receiving a response (Head, 2004). In the field of healthcare particularly in nursing, patients and nurses use prayer to request healing from the greater being (Benson et al., 2006). The idea of using prayer as a medical intervention has generated much attention in the medical field (Kutz, 2004). Studies have been done to verify the influence of prayer on the recovery of patients (Head, 2004) though concrete evidence as to the effectiveness of prayer as an intervention has not been documented (Benson et al, 2006). The use of prayer as an intervention by nurses has been perceived differently by nursing leadership. In some cases, it is taken positively and even recommended (Kutz, 2004), while in other cases it is taken negatively, with cases being reported of nurses being terminated for use of prayer on their patients, on grounds of ‘non-professional conduct’ (Alderson, 2009).
Research Problem
Research has been done relating prayer and healing but it has focused only on finding a correlation between the two in specific situations (Benson et al, 2006), thus ignoring the influence of spirituality and prayer on overall health. Studies relating spiritual development from childhood to adulthood and health have also focused only on behavior and mental health (Bridges & Moore, 2002), ignoring the effect of spirituality on overall health. This leaves a research gap which this paper intends to fill by focusing on the impact of prayer among Christian individuals aged 12 years and above on their overall health and well-being. Prayer positively influences the hope and confidence of individuals aged 12 and above, thus due to this psychological impact, it assists in improving their overall health.
Significance of the study
The study of this topic is necessary in order to give the nurses and nursing leaders an insight into the impact of prayer on health matters affecting the target group. This will assist them to make the best decisions on how to handle spiritual matters, particularly prayer when dealing with patients and their colleagues.
Review of Literature
Studies relating spirituality to medical aspects are not new (Bridges & Moore, 2002). The recent change of culture towards customer service has seen medical institutions turn to consider patient requirements and incorporate prayer into clinical practice (Kutz, 2004). This is, however, hardly the only reason. Studies have shown that a patient’s belief in prayer and its purpose in healing causes emotional calm and rest which is associated with better healing. A study by the British Medical Journal in 2001 also indicated that patients who prayed had a shorter hospital stay (Kutz, 2004). Prayer has also been seen to assist patients with chronic illnesses to cope with their conditions (Wachholtz & Sambamoorthi, 2011).
Spirituality has also been seen to play a critical role in determining the activities that children above 12 years engage in. More ‘spiritual’ children are seen to engage less in drug use and sexuality (Bridges & Moore, 2002). This ultimately affects how they develop into adulthood.
Studies have also, controversially, indicated evidence to the contrary. Benson et al (2006) conducted a study on 3 groups of coronary bypass patients where two received intercessory prayers and one did not. Results indicated no significant influence of prayer on recovery, but certainly of receiving prayer was associated with more complications. The researchers however said that explaining the findings would require more research.
Methodology
The study will be conducted in form of a survey on Christian individuals aged 12 and above. A two-part questionnaire will be used. The first part will have questions measuring the level of commitment to prayer by the respondent. The second part of the questionnaire will have questions measuring the level of ‘well-being’ of the respondents.
References
Alderson, A. (2009). Nurse suspended for offering to pray for elderly patient’s recovery. Web.
Benson, H., Dusek, J.A., Sherwood, J.B., Lam, P., Bethea, C.F., Carpenter, W.,….Hibberd, P.L. (2006). Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer. American Heart Journal , 151(4), 934-942.
Bridges, L. J., & Moore, K. A. (2002). Religion and Spirituality in Childhood and Adolescence. Web.
Head, J. (2004). ‘Please Pray For Me’: The Significance of Prayer for Mental and Emotional Well Being. Web.
Kutz, M. R. (2004). Observations on Prayer as a Viable Treatment Intervention: A Brief Review for Healthcare Providers. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice , 2(1), Web.
Wachholtz, A., & Sambamoorthi, U. (2011). National Trends in Prayer Use as a Coping Mechanism for Health Concerns: Changes From 2002 to 2007. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality , 3 (2), 67–77.