Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP)

Beth Israel Lahey Health

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

Treatments: Behavioral: Intercessory Prayer

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00179491

2001-P-002125

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 1,802 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 years or older
• Able to read or understand English

Exclusion criteria

• Scheduled for emergent CABG (next available operating room slot)
• CABG more than 14 days after enrollment
• Other planned surgery within 30 days of CABG
• Minimally invasive CABG (non full sternotomy incisions)
• CABG with planned valve replacement, stent, angioplasty or carotid endarterectomy
• Or had ongoing chest pain or unstable angina, as defined by their physicians

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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1,802 participants in 3 patient groups

Group 1

Active Comparator group

Description:

604 patients received intercessory prayer after being informed they may or may not receive prayers (Group 1)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Intercessory Prayer

2

No Intervention group

Description:

597 patients did not receive prayer after being informed they may or may not receive prayer (Group 2)

Group 3

Experimental group

Description:

601 patients received intercessory prayer after being informed they would receive it (Group 3).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Intercessory Prayer