A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL TO ASSESS EFFECTIVENESS OF A SPIRITUALLY-BASED INTERVENTION TO HELP CHRONICALLY ILL ADULTS

作者:McCauley Jeanne*; Haaz Steffany; Tarpley Margaret J; Koenig Harold G; Bartlett Susan J
来源:International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2011, 41(1): 91-105.
DOI:10.2190/PM.41.1.h

摘要

Objective: Creative, cost-effective ways are needed to help older adults deal effectively with chronic diseases. Spiritual beliefs and practices are often used to deal with health problems. We evaluated whether a minimal intervention, consisting of a video and workbook encouraging use of patient spiritual coping, would be inoffensive and improve perceived health status. Methods: A randomized clinical trial of 100 older, chronically ill adults were assigned to a Spiritual (SPIRIT) or Educational (EDUC-standard cardiac risk reduction) intervention. Individuals in each group were shown a 28-minute video and given a workbook to complete over 4 weeks. Selected psychosocial and health outcome measures were administered at baseline and 6 weeks later. Results: Participants were mostly female (62%), with a mean age of 65.8 +/- 9.6 years and had an average of three chronic illnesses. More than 90% were Christian. At baseline, frequent daily spiritual experiences (DSE) were associated with being African American (p <.05) and increased pain (p <.01) and co-morbidities (p <= 01). Energy increased significantly (p < .05) in the SPIRIT group and decreased in the EDUC group. Improvements in pain, mood, health perceptions, illness intrusiveness, and self-efficacy were not statistically significant. Conclusions: A minimal intervention encouraging spiritual coping was inoffensive to patients, associated with increased energy, and required no additional clinician time. (Int'l. J. Psychiatry in Medicine 2011;41:91-105)

  • 出版日期2011