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
Received 5 January 2005; accepted 6 May 2005.
Abstract
Background
Intercessory prayer is widely believed to influence recovery from illness, but claims of benefits are not supported by well-controlled clinical trials. Prior studies have not addressed whether prayer itself or knowledge/certainty that prayer is being provided may influence outcome. We evaluated whether (1) receiving intercessory prayer or (2) being certain of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with uncomplicated recovery after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
Methods
Patients at 6 US hospitals were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 604 received intercessory prayer after being informed that they may or may not receive prayer; 597 did not receive intercessory prayer also after being informed that they may or may not receive prayer; and 601 received intercessory prayer after being informed they would receive prayer. Intercessory prayer was provided for 14 days, starting the night before CABG. The primary outcome was presence of any complication within 30 days of CABG. Secondary outcomes were any major event and mortality.
Results
In the 2 groups uncertain about receiving intercessory prayer, complications occurred in 52% (315/604) of patients who received intercessory prayer versus 51% (304/597) of those who did not (relative risk 1.02, 95% CI 0.92-1.15). Complications occurred in 59% (352/601) of patients certain of receiving intercessory prayer compared with the 52% (315/604) of those uncertain of receiving intercessory prayer (relative risk 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.28). Major events and 30-day mortality were similar across the 3 groups.
Conclusions
Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on complication-free recovery from CABG, but certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with a higher incidence of complications.
aMind/Body Medical Institute and the Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
bOklahoma Heart Institute, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK
cPastoral Care, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK
dCareGroup, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
eSection of Cardiac Surgery, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
fPastoral Care, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
gBaptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, Memphis, TN
iMayo Physician Alliance for Clinical Trials, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
jDepartment of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
kChaplain Services, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
Reprint requests: Herbert Benson, MD, Mind/Body Medical Institute, 824 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
This study was supported by the John Templeton Foundation. The Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation supported the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation site only.
l Drs Benson, Dusek, and Hibberd contributed equally to this article.
ABSTRACT