February 10, 2004 - More RNs are integrating spirituality into their practices to accomodate a growing patient demand and to address needs beyond the physical. About 72 percent of Americans who responded to a Newsweek poll said they would welcome a conversation with their physician about their faith, according to the Nov. 10, 2003, issue. Article from NurseWeek.com. (link is no longer available)

September 13, 2002 - Is prayer useful in medical care?

This article from WebMD reports on a study that found higher pregnancy rates for women seeking assistance at fertility clinics when total strangers prayed for them. Another study found that people undergoing risky cardiovascular surgery have fewer complications when they were the focus of prayer groups of varying denominations. (link is no longer available)

March 18, 2002 - This article from American Medical News spotlights physicians who draw on their spirituality and combine it with their medical knowledge to improve patient care.

March 14, 2002 - Here is a WebMD article showing that recent research doesn't support the popular notion that religion promotes health. An excerpt from the article:

"While few dispute that faith in a higher power can aid in healing, new research finds that there is little scientific evidence to back up the notion that prayer, going to church, and other religious activities provide health benefits."

December 18, 2001 - Does intercessory prayer (prayer by one or more strangers on behalf of another) improve medical outcomes?

The Mayo Clinic is reporting that intercessory prayer had no significant effect on specifically defined medical outcomes, regardless of risk status.

Here is the abstract of an article (pdf format) entitled "Intercessory Prayer and Cardiovascular Disease Progression in a Coronary Care Unit Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial". (link is no longer available)

An editorial (pdf format) also appears in this latest issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings about the relationship of prayer, spirituality, and medicine. (link is no longer available)

An article from WebMD summarizes the Mayo Clinic study.

December 6, 2001 - This article from WebMD discusses the growing body of evidence showing that people who are prayed for have better medical outcomes. (link is no longer available)

August 13, 2001 - Here is an essay by a dialysis patient who writes of her changing and evolving relationship with God. The essay is entitled:

"Am I wasting my time praying for healing". (link is no longer available)

August 13, 2001 - There have been several interesting items about religion and medicine recently:

"Religious Struggle as a Predictor of Mortality Among Medically Ill Elderly Patients" - full text article (link is no longer available) from the Archives of Internal Medicine. Here is a press release summary from Duke University/EurekAlert. An excerpt:

'Feelings of "being abandoned or punished by God," "believing the devil caused their illnesses" or "feeling abandoned by one's faith community" were identified as key factors in risk of death among elderly participants', according to one of the study authors.

"Religion and Medicine" - a commentary by a physician from the Archives of Internal Medicine. (link is no longer available)

"Can Prayer Heal?" - article from WebMD. (link is no longer available)

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