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Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 1/2018

01-02-2018 | Original Paper

Hospitalized Patients’ Responses to Offers of Prayer

Authors: Kathy McMillan, Elizabeth Johnston Taylor

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Most Americans pray; many pray about their health. When they are hospitalized, however, do patients want an offer of prayer from a healthcare provider? This project allowed for the measurement of hospitalized patient’s responses to massage therapists’ offers of a colloquial prayer after a massage. After the intervention, 78 patients completed questionnaires that elicited quantitative data that were analyzed using uni- and bivariate statistical analyses. In this sample, 88% accepted the offer of prayer, 85% found it helpful, and 51% wanted prayer daily. Patients may welcome prayer, as long as the clinician shows “genuine kindness and respect.”
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Metadata
Title
Hospitalized Patients’ Responses to Offers of Prayer
Authors
Kathy McMillan
Elizabeth Johnston Taylor
Publication date
01-02-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0454-5

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