Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP): study design and research methods

American Heart Journal
Jeffery A DusekPatricia L Hibberd

Abstract

The effect of intercessory prayer (IP) on outcome in cardiac cases has been evaluated previously, but results are controversial. The goals of the Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) are to evaluate the effects of receipt of additional study IP and awareness of receipt of additional study IP on outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. STEP is not designed to determine whether God exists or whether God does or does not respond to IP. STEP is a multicenter, controlled trial of 1802 patients in 6 US hospitals, randomized to 1 of 3 groups. Two groups were informed that they may or may not receive 14 consecutive days of additional IP starting the night before coronary artery bypass graft surgery; Group 1 received IP, Group 2 did not. A third group (Group 3) was informed that they would receive additional IP and did so. Three mainstream religious sites provided daily IP for patients assigned to receive IP. At each hospital, research nurses blinded to patient group assignment reviewed medical records to determine whether complications occurred, on the basis of the Society for Thoracic Surgeons definitions. A blinded nurse auditor from the Coordinating Center reviewed every study p...Continue Reading

Citations

May 15, 2002·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Robert Anderson
Dec 6, 2006·Perspectives in Biology and Medicine·Richard P Sloan, Rajasekhar Ramakrishnan
Jan 6, 2010·Indian Journal of Psychiatry·Chittaranjan Andrade, Rajiv Radhakrishnan
Apr 3, 2007·Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice·Fabio IkedoLynette M Smith
Apr 24, 2015·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Adrian Flint
Sep 26, 2006·American Heart Journal·Steven M Lilly
Sep 26, 2006·American Heart Journal·Peter Hobbins
Jul 5, 2005·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·John H K VogelUNKNOWN American College of Cardiology Foundation Task Force on Clinical Expert Consensus Documents (Writing Committee to Develop an
Jul 31, 2013·Ciência & saúde coletiva·Maria Inês da RosaRafael Azevedo
Apr 4, 2006·Journal of Bioethical Inquiry·Peter Graeme Hobbins
Feb 13, 2016·Journal of Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Medicine·Haleh TajadiniHossein Rafiei
Jul 22, 2006·Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz·H Walach
Jun 25, 2014·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Martijn J A Hogerbrugge, Merril D Silverstein
Apr 17, 2009·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Leanne RobertsAndrew Davison
Jul 4, 2006·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Gerald Weissmann
Jun 5, 2003·Wiener klinische Wochenschrift·Edzard Ernst

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.