Symposium V

Prayer in the Acute Phase of a Myocardial Infarction

Donia Baldacchino

Prayer is multidimensional and may have a theistic or non-theistic orientation. Research provides evidence about the efficacy of spirituality and prayer during stressful situations which may yield positive outcomes in health. Prayer may yield positive beliefs that may foster meaning and purpose in illness and life, particularly when faced with a life threatening illness such as, myocardial Infarction. In contrast, prayer may yield negative outcomes for example when patients consider their illness as a punishment from God.

This paper presents part of a larger descriptive longitudinal study on patients’ experiences of prayer during the onset of myocardial infarction. This study was guided by three theories: The numinous experience (Otto 1950); Cognitive Theory of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman 1984) and Relational Spirituality and Transformation (Sandage & Shults 2007). A total of 53 patients with first acute MI (34 males; 19 females), mean age of 61.9 years, affiliated with the Roman Catholic religion, were interviewed retrospectively on their transfer to the medical ward.

The qualitative data which underwent thematic analysis revealed that while patients considered the severity of their chest pain, they perceived the loss of their dear ones, experienced the fear of abandonment from God, and fear of death. Consequently, 53% of males (n=18) and 84% females (n=16) prayed to God through the intercession of saints such as, Saint Mary, Padre Pio and Saint Gorg Preca. However, 47% of males (n=16) and 16% of females (n=3) did not pray during the immediate acute phase. The types of prayer consisted of intercessory prayer, thanksgiving to God, requesting forgiveness from God and efforts of alignment with the will of God. While considering the limitations of this study, recommendations were set for the education, management and clinical sectors in order to ameliorate patient care.

Keywords: prayer, relationship with God, acute phase, myocardial infarction, impact of heart attack.

References:
Lazarus R.S. & Folkman (1984) Stress, Appraisal and Coping. Springer Publishing Company, New York.
Otto R (1950) The Idea of the Holy: An inquiry into the non-rational factor in the idea of the divine and its relation to the rational. Oxford University Press, London.
Sandage SJ & Shults FL (2007) Relational spirituality and transformation: A relational integration model. Journal of Psychology and Christianity 26, 261-269.

Slides:

Functions and Topics of Prayer in Patients Dealing with Illness - A Systematic Review

Karin Jors

Background: Private, personal prayer has been shown to both positively and negatively influence physical and mental well-being. Despite inconclusive results regarding its benefit, prayer is commonly used among patients for health purposes. Therefore, in this review, we were interested in two main questions: 1) why do the people turn to prayer in times of illness and 2) what are the main topics of their prayers?

Method: We undertook a systematic literature review by searching the databases PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO and Index Theologicus for studies focused on prayer and illness. The following inclusion criteria were used: 1) participants in the study were patients dealing with an illness 2) study examined the use of private prayer rather than intercessory prayer 3) both the function and topics of prayer were investigated.

Results: In total, 12 articles were included in the final review. The majority of the studies used a qualitative design, e.g. interviews. Study participants suffered from a variety of diseases but most often from cancer. In all 12 studies, patients prayed for improvement in both physical and mental well-being. Nine studies showed that patients prayed for help managing their disease, e.g. decision-making. However, patients also prayed for protection, guidance, strength and hope. Prayers were not only self-focused but also included thanksgiving, adoration and prayers for others.

Conclusions: Although most patients do pray for relief from their physical and mental suffering, it appears that the effectiveness of their prayers (i.e. healing) is not the main reason they pray. Rather, prayer can be a source of strength and comfort that allows patients to positively transform the experience of their illness.

Prayer and Health: Issues for Theology and Psychology of Religion

Mary R. Esperandio & Kevin L. Ladd

Quantitative research has been prevalent in the studies on prayer. Using a qualitative approach based on content analysis, this study examines the relationship between prayer and health. Data come from 104 recorded interviews of participants from Catholic, Protestant and Pentecostal traditions. The analysis found four categories that describe the use of prayer: 1. Prayer as a religious coping strategy (62,5%); 2. Prayer as a discipline to keep spirituality alive (15,3%); 3. Prayer as a technique of mutual empowerment (8,6%); 4. Prayer as a turning point in the existential process (13,4%). The types of prayer corresponding to these categories are: 1. Petitionary and Lamentation; 2. Rest and Sacramental; 3. Intercessory prayer; 4. Conversion; Calling; Movement of the Spirit. According to the current literature, prayer provides inward, outward and upward connectivity. The results indicate an additional connectivity not yet studied: the Epiphanic connectivity, which comes from sacred to human and marks a turning point in the existential process. The outcomes suggest a close relationship between prayer and spiritual and mental health by decreasing anxiety, making meaning and purpose in life, and point out the relevance and need for further studies on the interface between theology and psychology of religion.

Medicine, Faith, Religion and Science

Joseph Cacciatolo

The practices of medicine and belief in the supernatural have always been closely associated, and historically, medicine has only relatively recently become an evidence-based applied science. Despite the clear separation of modern medicine from religion, several studies have shown that belief in the metaphysical and the practice of faith are very important to individuals, especially when they are concerned about their health, or undergoing life-changing events.

Any discussion of the relationship between faith and medicine is rendered complex not only because their boundaries are unclear, but also because of the personal and subjective nature of faith itself. A major confounding factor in such discourse is the fact that different systems of belief relate dissimilarly with medical science and practice: often the only common ground is the search for truth.

At a conceptual level, the interface between medicine and faith needs to take into consideration matters that in general relate to science and religion, as well as issues of convergence, hurdles to discourse and divergence.

At a practical level, faith in the immaterial may occasionally affect individual medical decisions both from the patient’s aspect, as well as from the physician’s perspective. At an individual level, the faith of persons facing physical adversity is at times tested, as is belief in intercessional prayer. For physicians and scientists, it is often a very personal decision to specifically address faith and its compatibility with scientific evidence.