Prayer as a treatment modality in patient healthcare: Physicians\u27 spiritual beliefs and religious practices and their relationship to patient health

The intention of this study was to determine whether physicians\u27 spiritual beliefs and the integration of prayer in medical practice are associated with patient health. In this study, 546 physicians from 40 different family practice residency programs in the contiguous United States completed and returned surveys. Regression analyses using these data and patient statistics provided by the clinics were performed. Patient\u27s length of hospital stay and a ratio of clinic patients to hospital patients were used as dependent measures. The results did not show a relationship between physician beliefs, prayer, and patient health. However, there was a significant relationship between religious affiliation and frequency of religious service attendance, and degree of integration of prayer in practice. Male physicians had a higher strength of faith index than female physicians; and faculty physicians were more likely than residents to discuss religious issues with patients