Religious vs. Conventional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Depression in Persons With Chronic Medical Illness: A Pilot Randomized Trial A randomized trial of spiritual assessment of outpatients with schizophrenia: patients' and clinicians' experience. A pilot trial of spirituality counseling for weight loss maintenance in African American breast cancer survivors. CONSORT 2010 Explanation and Elaboration: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. Pain, mindfulness, and spirituality: A randomized controlled trial comparing effects of mindfulness and relaxation on pain-related outcomes in migraineurs Pilot randomized controlled trial of individual meaning-centered psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer. Effects of Spiritual Mantram Repetition on HIV Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial Extending the CONSORT statement to randomized trials of nonpharmacologic treatment: explanation and elaboration. Measuring effectiveness of a spiritual care pedagogy in nursing education. Spiritually Based Intervention to Increase Colorectal Cancer Awareness Among African Americans: Intermediate Outcomes From a Randomized Trial A Spiritually Based Approach to Breast Cancer Awareness: Cognitive Response Analysis of Communication Effectiveness The effect of spiritual therapy for improving the quality of life of women with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial Effects of faith/assurance on cortisol levels are enhanced by a spiritual mantram intervention in adults with HIV: a randomized trial. A Spiritually Based Group Intervention for Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Effectiveness of a Spiritually-Based Intervention to Help Chronically Ill Adults Passage Meditation Improves Caregiving Self-efficacy among Health Professionals Meaninglessness in terminally ill cancer patients: a randomized controlled study. Do spiritual patients want spiritual interventions?: A qualitative exploration of underserved cancer patients' perspectives on religion and spirituality. Effects of hope promoting interventions based on religious beliefs on quality of life of patients with congestive heart failure and their families Sisters in motion: a randomized controlled trial of a faith-based physical activity intervention. Physical activity with spiritual strategies intervention: a cluster randomized trial with older African American women. Results of a faith-based weight loss intervention for black women. Obesity Treatment Tailored for a Catholic Faith Community A controlled study of a spirituality-focused intervention for increasing motivation for HIV prevention among drug users. Passage meditation reduces perceived stress in health professionals: a randomized, controlled trial. Randomized controlled trial of a six-week spiritual reminiscence intervention on hope, life satisfaction, and spiritual well-being in elderly with mild and moderate dementia. Project ACTS: An Intervention to Increase Organ and Tissue Donation Intentions Among African Americans Spiritual quality of life in advanced cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. The biopsychosocial spiritual model applied to the treatment of women with breast cancer, through RIME intervention (relaxation, mental images, spirituality).
Abstract We examine the efficacy of conventional cognitive behavioral therapy ( CCBT ) versus religiously integrated CBT ( RCBT ) in persons with major depression and chronic medical illness . Participants were r and omized to either CCBT ( n = 67 ) or RCBT ( n = 65 ) . The intervention in both groups consisted of ten 50-minute sessions delivered remotely during 12 weeks ( 94 % by telephone ) . Adherence to treatment was similar , except in more religious participants in whom adherence to RCBT was slightly greater ( 85.7 % vs. 65.9 % , p = 0.10 ) . The intention-to-treat analysis at 12 weeks indicated no significant difference in outcome between the two groups ( B = 0.33 ; SE , 1.80 ; p = 0.86 ) . Response rates and remission rates were also similar . Overall religiosity interacted with treatment group ( B = −0.10 ; SE , 0.05 ; p = 0.048 ) , suggesting that RCBT was slightly more efficacious in the more religious participants . These preliminary findings suggest that CCBT and RCBT are equivalent treatments of  major depression in persons with chronic medical illness .  Efficacy , as well as adherence , may be affected by client religiosity OBJECTIVE Recovery-oriented care for patients with schizophrenia involves consideration of cultural issues , such as religion and spirituality . However , there is evidence that psychiatrists rarely address such topics . This study examined acceptance of a spiritual assessment  by patients and clinicians  , suggestions for treatment that arose from the assessment , and patient outcomes --in terms of treatment compliance and satisfaction with care ( as measured by treatment alliance ) . METHODS Out patients with psychosis were r and omly assigned to two groups : an  intervention group that received traditional treatment and a religious and spiritual assessment ( N=40 ) and a control group that received only traditional treatment ( N=38 ) . Eight psychiatrists were trained to administer the assessment to their established and stable patients . After each administration , the psychiatrist attended a supervision session with a psychiatrist and a psychologist of religion . Baseline and three-month data were collected . RESULTS The spiritual assessment  was well accepted by patients . During supervision , psychiatrists reported potential clinical uses for the assessment information for 67 % of patients . No between-group differences in medication adherence and satisfaction with care were found at three months , although patients in the intervention group had significantly better appointment attendance during the follow-up period . Their interest in discussing religion and spirituality with their psychiatrists remained high . The process was not as well accepted by psychiatrists . CONCLUSIONS  Spiritual assessment  can raise important clinical issues in the treatment of patients with chronic schizophrenia . Cultural factors , such as religion and spirituality , should be considered early in clinical training , because many clinicians are not at ease addressing such topics with patients A continuing challenge in weight loss treatment is attaining maintenance of weight loss . The goal of this study was to develop a counseling method that would assist African American breast cancer survivors with weight loss maintenance . In this pilot study , 31 obese breast cancer survivors were recruited .  Individualized , dietitian-led counseling by telephone and free Weight Watchers coupons were provided to all participants for 18 months . At the 6-month time point , women were r and omized to receive spirituality counseling or not in addition to the st and ard program . The spirituality counseling was delivered via telephone using an 8-step framework . Subjects were asked to utilize  daily meditation or prayer , daily readings  , and the recording of thoughts in a journal . Mean weight loss from baseline to 6 months was a modest 2.0 % of baseline weight . From 6 to 18 months , there was no further weight change in the spirituality arm and a gain of 0.7 % in the dietitian-only arm . Despite little effect on weight loss , it did appear that spirituality counseling positively affected spiritual well-being ( FACIT-Sp ) scores and dietary quality . The spirituality counseling framework therefore may be further refined and useful for other health promotion studies with African American population Overwhelming evidence shows the quality of reporting of r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) is not optimal . Without transparent reporting , readers can not judge the reliability and validity of trial findings nor extract information for systematic review s. Recent method ological analyses indicate that inadequate reporting and design are associated with biased estimates of treatment effects . Such systematic error is seriously damaging to RCTs , which are considered the gold st and ard for evaluating interventions because of their ability to minimise or avoid bias . A group of scientists and editors developed the CONSORT ( Consoli date d St and ards of Reporting Trials ) statement to improve the quality of reporting of RCTs . It was first published in 1996 and up date d in 2001 . The statement consists of a checklist and flow diagram that authors can use for reporting an RCT . Many leading medical journals and major international editorial groups have endorsed the CONSORT statement . The statement facilitates critical appraisal and interpretation of RCTs . During the 2001 CONSORT revision , it became clear that explanation and elaboration of the principles underlying the CONSORT statement would help investigators and others to write or appraise trial reports . A CONSORT explanation and elaboration article was published in 2001 alongside the 2001 version of the CONSORT statement . After an expert meeting in January 2007 , the CONSORT statement has been further revised and is published as the CONSORT 2010 Statement . This up date improves the wording and clarity of the previous checklist and incorporates recommendations related to topics that have only recently received recognition , such as selective outcome reporting bias . This explanatory and elaboration document-intended to enhance the use , underst and ing , and dissemination of the CONSORT statement-has also been extensively revised . It presents the meaning and rationale for each new and up date d checklist item providing examples of good reporting and , where possible , references to relevant empirical studies . Several examples of flow diagrams are included . The CONSORT 2010 Statement , this revised explanatory and elaboration document , and the associated website ( www.consort-statement.org ) should be helpful re sources to improve reporting of r and omised trials In order to examine mindfulness as an intervention for pain , 107 migraineurs , predominantly college students , were r and omly assigned to brief training in st and ardized mindfulness , spiritualized mindfulness , and simple relaxation instructions . After 2 weeks of daily practice , participants completed the cold-pressor task while practicing their assigned technique , and their experience of the task was assessed . Among the 74 study -completers , st and ardized mindfulness led to significantly reduced pain-related stress relative to simple relaxation , providing modest support for the utility of mindfulness in pain management . Pain-related outcomes in the spiritualized mindfulness condition were similar to those of st and ardized mindfulness , though spirituality did appear to enhance mindful awareness PURPOSE Spiritual well-being and sense of meaning are important concerns for clinicians who care for patients with cancer . We developed Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy ( IMCP ) to address the need for brief interventions targeting spiritual well-being and meaning for patients with advanced cancer . PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with stage III or IV cancer ( N = 120 ) were r and omly assigned to seven sessions of either IMCP or therapeutic massage ( TM ) . Patients were assessed before and after completing the intervention and 2 months postintervention . Primary outcome measures assessed spiritual well-being and quality of life ; secondary outcomes included anxiety , depression , hopelessness , symptom burden , and symptom-related distress . RESULTS Of the 120 participants r and omly assigned , 78 ( 65 % ) completed the post-treatment assessment and 67 ( 56 % ) completed the 2-month follow-up . At the post-treatment assessment , IMCP participants demonstrated significantly greater improvement than the control condition for the primary outcomes of spiritual well-being ( b = 0.39 ; P < .001 , including both components of spiritual well-being ( sense of meaning : b = 0.34 ; P = .003 and faith : b = 0.42 ; P = .03 ) , and quality of life ( b = 0.76 ; P = .013 ) . Significantly greater improvements for IMCP patients were also observed for the secondary outcomes of symptom burden ( b = -6.56 ; P < .001 ) and symptom-related distress ( b = -0.47 ; P < .001 ) but not for anxiety , depression , or hopelessness . At the 2-month follow-up assessment , the improvements observed for the IMCP group were no longer significantly greater than those observed for the TM group . CONCLUSION IMCP has clear short-term benefits for spiritual suffering and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer . Clinicians working with patients who have advanced cancer should consider IMCP as an approach to enhance quality of life and spiritual well-being We examined the efficacy of a psycho-spiritual intervention of mantram repetition -- a word or phrase with spiritual associations repeated silently throughout the day -- on psychological distress ( intrusive thoughts , stress , anxiety , anger , depression ) , quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction , and existential spiritual well-being  in HIV-infected adults . Using a 2-group by 4-time repeated measures design , 93 participants were r and omly assigned to mantram ( n = 46 ) or attention control group ( n = 47 ) . Over time , the mantram group improved significantly more than the control group in reducing trait-anger and increasing spiritual faith and spiritual connectedness . Actual mantram practice measured by wrist counters was inversely associated with non-HIV related intrusive thoughts and positively associated with quality of life , total existential spiritual well-being , meaning/peace , and spiritual faith . Intent-to-treat findings suggest that a mantram group intervention and actual mantram practice each make unique contributions for managing psychological distress and enhancing existential spiritual well-being in adults living with HIV/AIDS Adequate reporting of r and omized , controlled trials ( RCTs ) is necessary to allow accurate critical appraisal of the validity and applicability of the results . The CONSORT ( Consoli date d St and ards of Reporting Trials ) Statement , a 22-item checklist and flow diagram , is intended to address this problem by improving the reporting of RCTs . However , some specific issues that apply to trials of nonpharmacologic treatments ( for example , surgery , technical interventions , devices , rehabilitation , psychotherapy , and behavioral intervention ) are not specifically addressed in the CONSORT Statement . Furthermore , considerable evidence suggests that the reporting of nonpharmacologic trials still needs improvement . Therefore , the CONSORT group developed an extension of the CONSORT Statement for trials assessing nonpharmacologic treatments . A consensus meeting of 33 experts was organized in Paris , France , in February 2006 , to develop an extension of the CONSORT Statement for trials of nonpharmacologic treatments . The participants extended 11 items from the CONSORT Statement , added 1 item , and developed a modified flow diagram . To allow adequate underst and ing and implementation of the CONSORT extension , the CONSORT group developed this elaboration and explanation document from a review of the literature to provide examples of adequate reporting . This extension , in conjunction with the main CONSORT Statement and other CONSORT extensions , should help to improve the reporting of RCTs performed in this field Nurses have long recognized the importance of spiritual care in nursing practice as promoting the integration of meaning and purpose in life . More recently , both the American Nurses Association incorporates spiritual care in the Scope and St and ards of Nursing Practice and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has integrated spiritual care in the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education . However , research suggests that nurses do not know how to provide spiritual care . This study developed and tested a spiritual care pedagogy . In phase I , research ers design ed a spiritual care educational and reflective program based on the Burkhart/Hogan theory of spiritual care in nursing practice , incorporating face-to-face and on-line components . In phase 2 , the effectiveness of this program was measured in a pre-post test , r and omized controlled trial with senior nursing students during their capstone clinical immersion course ( n=59 ) . Findings revealed a statistically significant increase in  students ' perceived ability in providing spiritual care , particularly in complex family clinical situations . Findings also indicated a significant increase in the student 's use of reflective practice s , which students found to help support them during stressful times . This study translates nursing theory and research into a successful pedagogy Colorectal cancer screening , while effective for reducing mortality , remains underutilized particularly among underserved population s such as African Americans . The present study evaluated a spiritually based approach to increasing Health Belief Model – based pre-screening outcomes in a Community Health Advisor – led intervention conducted in African American churches . Sixteen urban churches were r and omized to receive either the spiritually based intervention or a nonspiritual comparison of the same structure and core colorectal cancer content . Trained Community Health Advisors led a series of two educational sessions on colorectal cancer early detection . The educational sessions were delivered over a 1-month period . Participants ( N = 316 ) completed a baseline survey at enrollment and a follow-up survey one month after the first session . Both interventions result ed in significant pre/post increases in knowledge , perceived benefits of screening , and decreases in perceived barriers to screening . Among women , the spiritually based intervention result ed in significantly greater increases in perceived benefits of screening relative to the nonspiritual comparison . This finding was marginal in the sample as a whole . In addition , perceived benefits to screening were associated with behavioral intention for screening . It is concluded that in this population , the spiritually based was generally as effective as the nonspiritual ( secular ) communication The purpose of this study was to compare the communication effectiveness of a spiritually based approach to breast cancer early detection education with a secular approach , among African American women , by conducting a cognitive response analysis . A total of 108 women from 6 Alabama churches were r and omly assigned by church to receive a spiritually based or secular educational booklet discussing  breast cancer early detection . Based on the elaboration likelihood model ( Petty & Cacioppo , 1981 ) , after reading the booklets participants were asked to complete a thought-listing task , writing down any thoughts they experienced and rating them as positive , negative , or neutral . Two independent coders then used 5 dimensions to code participants ' thoughts . Compared with the secular booklet , the spiritually based booklet result ed in significantly more thoughts involving personal connection , self- assessment , and spiritually based responses . These results suggest that a spiritually based approach to breast cancer awareness may be more effective than the secular approach because it caused women to more actively process the message , stimulating central route processing . The incorporation of spiritually based content into church-based breast cancer education could be a promising health communication approach for African American women Diagnosis of breast cancer is a devastating psychological experience for a woman . Also , treatments such as radiation therapy may cause psychosocial distress in these patients and threaten their quality of life ( QOL ) . Among several approaches , spirituality has been shown to be significantly associated with improving the QOL . The aim of this study was to assess the role of spiritual therapy intervention in improving the QOL of patients with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy . This was a r and omized controlled trial study undertaken in a radiotherapy clinic , Isfahan , Iran . Between October 2010 and February 2011 , 68 patients under radiation therapy were r and omized to either spiritual therapy intervention group or control group who received routine management and educational programs . Before and after six weeks of spiritual therapy sessions , the QOL was evaluated using Cancer quality -of-life question naire (QLQ)-C30 and breast cancer-specific question naire ( BR-23 ) . Multivariate , repeated- measures ANOVA , t-test , and Paired t-test were used for analysis using Predictive Analytic Soft Ware ( PASW , version 18 ) for windows . In all , 65 patients actually completed the six-week intervention and were evaluated for the outcome . The mean Global health status score/QOL reached from 44.37 ( SD = 13.03 ) to 68.63 ( SD = 10.86 ) , ( p = 0.00 ) . There was a statistically significant difference in all functional scales of QLQ-C30 after intervention ( p < 0.05 ) . The results of this trial showed that the spiritual therapy program can improve the overall QOL of women with breast cancer ; therefore , it could be adopted in comprehensive care programs for women with breast cancer OBJECTIVES Previous research among HIV-infected individuals suggests that spiritual well-being is inversely related to psychological distress and rates of disease progression . Use of a mantram , a spiritual word or phrase repeated frequently and silently throughout the day , has been associated with decreased psychological distress and increased spiritual well-being . This study compared the effects of 2 interventions -a spiritually-based mantram intervention versus an attention-matched control group-on faith/assurance and average salivary cortisol levels among HIV-infected individuals . METHODS Using a r and omized design , HIV-infected adults were assigned to the intervention ( n = 36 ) or control condition ( n = 35 ) .  Faith scores and saliva ( collected at 7 a.m. , 11 a.m. , 4 p.m. , and 9 p.m. ) were assessed at preintervention , postintervention , and 5-week follow-up . Path analyses tested competing models that specify both concurrent and sequential relationships between faith and average daily cortisol levels while comparing groups . RESULTS Faith levels increased among mantram participants from pre- to postintervention . Greater faith at preintervention was significantly associated with lower average cortisol at postintervention in the mantram group but not in the controls . The associations between faith at postintervention and cortisol levels at 5-week follow-up were significant among both groups but weaker than the pre- to postintervention association identified in the mantram group . CONCLUSIONS These results suggest the presence of lagged or antecedent consequent relationships between faith and cortisol , which may be enhanced by mantram use . Decreased cortisol could potentially benefit immune functioning among HIV-infected individuals Purpose : To assess the feasibility , effect sizes , and satisfaction of mantram repetition — the spiritual practice of repeating a sacred word/phrase throughout the day — for managing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) in veterans . Design : A two group ( intervention vs. control ) by two time ( pre- and postintervention ) experimental design was used . Methods : Veterans were r and omly assigned to intervention ( n = 14 ) or delayed-treatment control ( n = 15 ) . Measures were PTSD symptoms , psychological distress , quality of life , and patient satisfaction . Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen 's d. Findings : Thirty-three male veterans were enrolled , and 29 ( 88 % ) completed the study . Large effect sizes were found for reducing PTSD symptom severity ( d = –.72 ) , psychological distress ( d = –.73 ) and increasing quality of life ( d = –.70 ) . Conclusions : A spiritual program was found to be feasible for veterans with PTSD . They reported moderate to high satisfaction . Effect sizes show promise for symptom improvement but more research is needed Objective : Creative , cost-effective ways are needed to help older adults deal effectively with chronic diseases . Spiritual beliefs and practice s 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 r and omized clinical trial of 100 older , chronically ill adults were assigned to a Spiritual ( SPIRIT ) or Educational ( EDUC — st and ard 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 α 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 Relational caregiving skills remain seldom studied in health professionals . We evaluated effects on health professional relational caregiving self-efficacy from an eight-week , 16-hour training in self-management tools .  Physicians , nurses , chaplains , and other health professionals were r and omized after pretest to treatment ( n = 30 ) or waiting list  ( n = 31 ) . Training used a previously research ed program of Easwaran ( 1991/1978 ) derived from spiritual wisdom traditions . Changes were measured using a 34-item caregiving self-efficacy scale . Positive effects were observed at posttest , eight- and 19-week follow-up ( ds = .38 , .47 , .37 , all ps < .05 ) , and were mediated by adherence to practice s and stress reductions ( p < .05 ) , findings also obtained in qualitative interviews ( n = 24 ) . Evidence suggests this program enhances health professional caregiving self-efficacy , and may merit inclusion in training curricula Although recent empirical studies reveal that fostering patients ' perception of meaning in their lives is an essential task for palliative care clinicians , few studies have reported the effects of training programs for nurses specifically aim ed at improving these skills . The primary aim of this r and omized controlled trial was to determine the effects of an educational workshop focusing on patients ' feelings of meaninglessness on nurses ' confidence , self-reported practice , and attitudes toward caring for such patients , in addition to burnout and meaning of life . The study was design ed as a single-institution , r and omized controlled trial using a waiting list control . The intervention consisted of eight 180-minute training sessions over four months , including lectures and exercises using structured assessment . A total of 41 nurses were r and omly allocated to three groups , which were separately trained , and all were evaluated four times at three-month intervals ( before intervention , between each intervention , and after the last intervention ) . Assessment s included vali date d Confidence and Self-Reported Practice scales , the Attitudes Toward Caring for Patients Feeling Meaningless Scale ( including willingness to help , positive appraisal , and helplessness items ) , the Maslach Burnout Scale , job satisfaction , and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual ( FACIT-Sp ) . One participant withdrew from the study before the baseline evaluation , and the remaining 40 nurses completed the study . The nurses were all female and had a mean age of 31+/-6.4 , and mean clinical experience of 8.9+/-5.5 years . There were no significant differences in background among the groups . The intervention effects were statistically significant on the Confidence Scale , the Self-Reported Practice Scale , and the willingness to help , positive appraisal , and helplessness subscales , in addition to the overall levels of burnout , emotional exhaustion , personal accomplishment , job satisfaction , and the FACIT-Sp . The change ratio of each parameter ranged from 5.6 % ( willingness to help ) to 37 % for the helplessness score and 51 % on the Confidence Scale . The percentages of nurses who evaluated this program as " useful " or " very useful " were 85 % ( to underst and the conceptual framework in caring for terminally ill patients with meaninglessness ) , 80 % ( to foster nurses ' personal values ) , and 88 % ( to know how to provide care for patients with meaninglessness ) . This educational intervention had a significant beneficial effect on nurse-perceived confidence , practice , and attitudes in providing care for patients feeling meaninglessness , in addition to the levels of burnout and spiritual well-being of nurses OBJECTIVE This study examines religion and spirituality among advanced cancer patients from an underserved , ethnically-diverse population by exploring patient conceptualizations of religion and spirituality , the role of religion and spirituality in coping with cancer , and patient interest in spiritual support . METHOD Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who had participated in a study of a " mind-body " support group for patients with all cancer types . Analysis based on grounded theory was utilized to identify themes and theoretical constructs . RESULTS With regard to patient conceptualizations of religion and spirituality , three categories emerged : ( 1 ) Spirituality is intertwined with organized religion ; ( 2 ) Religion is one manifestation of the broader construct of spirituality ; ( 3 ) Religion and spirituality are completely independent , with spirituality being desirable and religion not . Religion and spirituality played a central role in patients ' coping with cancer , providing comfort , hope , and meaning . Patients diverged when it came to spiritual support , with some enthusiastic about interventions incorporating their spiritual values and others stating that they already get this support through religious communities . SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Spirituality plays a central role in the cancer experience of this underserved ethnically-diverse population . While spirituality seems to be a universal concern in advanced cancer patients , the meaning of spirituality differs across individuals , with some equating it with organized religion and others taking a more individualized approach . It is important that psychosocial interventions are developed to address this concern . Future research is needed to further explore the different ways that patients conceptualize spirituality and to develop  spiritually-based treatments that are not " one size fits all . Background : Heart failure is one of the most important and prevalent diseases that may have negative effects on the quality of life ( QOL ) . Today , the promotion of QOL in patients with heart failure is important in nursing care programs . This research aim ed to determine the efficacy of hope-promoting interventions based on religious beliefs on the QOL of patients with congestive heart failure ( CHF ) . Material s and Methods : In this r and omized clinical trial ( I RCT 2014100619413N1 ) conducted in Isfahan , Iran , 46 adult patients with CHF were selected and r and omly assigned to study and control groups . Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index ( QLI ) was completed by both groups before , immediately after , and 1 month after the intervention . For the study group participants and their families , 60-min sessions of hope-promoting interventions based on religious beliefs were held twice a week for 3 weeks . Independent t , repeated measures analysis of variance ( ANOVA ) , Chi-square , Mann – Whitney , and Fisher 's exact tests were adopted for data analysis . Results : The mean ( st and ard deviation ) overall QOL score in the area of satisfaction significantly increased in the study group , compared to the controls , immediately [ 70.7 ( 8.5 ) vs. 59.2 ( 12.5 ) ] and 1 month after the intervention [ 75.2 ( 7.4 ) vs. 59.4 ( 12.9 ) ] ( P < 0.05 ) . There was also a similar difference between the two groups in the area of importance immediately [ 73.6 ( 5.8 ) vs. 65.7 ( 7.5 ) ] and 1 month after the intervention [ 76.3 ( 8.1 ) vs. 66.8 ( 8.5 ) ] ( P < 0.05 ) . Conclusions : Hope-promoting intervention based on religious beliefs is a useful method for improving QOL in patients with CHF OBJECTIVES To evaluate a faith-based intervention ( Sisters in Motion ) intended to increase walking in older , sedentary African-American women . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial using within-church r and omization . SETTING Three Los Angeles churches . PARTICIPANTS Sixty-two African-American women aged 60 and older who reported being active less than 30 minutes three times per week and walked less than 35,000 steps per week as measured using a baseline pedometer reading . INTERVENTION Intervention participants received a multicomponent curriculum including scripture readings , prayer , goal - setting , a community re source guide , and walking competitions . Intervention and control participants both participated in physical activity sessions . MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was change in weekly steps walked as measured using the pedometer . Secondary outcomes included change in systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) . Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 6 months after the intervention . RESULTS Eighty-five percent of participants attended at least six of eight sessions . Intervention participants averaged 12,727 steps per week at baseline , compared with 13,089 steps in controls . Mean baseline SBP was 156 mmHg for intervention participants and 147 mmHg for controls ( P=.10 ) . At 6 months , intervention participants had increased their weekly steps by 9,883 on average , compared with an increase of 2,426 for controls ( P=.02 ) ; SBP decreased on average by 12.5 mmHg in intervention participants and only 1.5 mmHg in controls ( P=.007 ) . CONCLUSION The Sisters in Motion intervention led to an increase in walking and a decrease in SBP at 6 months . This is the first r and omized controlled trial of a faith-based physical activity program to increase physical activity in older African-American women and represents an attractive approach to stimulate lifestyle change in this population A cluster r and omized study was conducted using a convenience sample of four Christian faith communities from which 27 African American women 60 and older were recruited . The purpose was to determine whether African American women receiving a physical activity intervention with spiritual strategies compared to a control group would demonstrate differences over time in physical activity behaviors and biomarkers , in self-efficacy for physical activity , and in barriers to physical activity . Results with baseline and 12-week measurements included significant between-group findings at 12 weeks on muscle strength activity ( minutes per week , z = -3.269 , p = 0.001 ; days per week , z = -3.384 , p = 0.001 ) , favoring the intervention group . There were significant between-group findings in 6-minute walk change scores ( z = -2.546 , p = 0.009 ) , favoring the intervention group . Barriers were significantly reduced within the intervention group ( z = -2.184 , p = 0.029 ) . Evidence suggests a physical activity intervention with spiritual strategies increases physical activity behavior . The Health Promotion Model can be used to develop physical activity interventions with spiritual strategies for older African American women in faith communities , thus , supporting Healthy People 2020 goals Obesity is a risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases . Although weight loss may reduce these risks , weight loss programs design ed for black women have yielded mixed results . Studies suggest that religion/spirituality is a prominent component of black culture . Given this , the inclusion of religion/spirituality as an active component of a weight loss program may enhance the benefits of the program . The role of religion/spirituality , however , has not been specifically tested as a mechanism that enhances the weight loss process . This paper presents the results of " Faith on the Move , " a r and omized pilot study of a  faith-based weight loss program for black women . The goals of the study were to estimate the effects of a 12-week  culturally tailored , faith-based weight loss intervention  on weight loss , dietary fat consumption and physical activity .  The culturally tailored , faith-based weight loss intervention was compared to a culturally tailored weight loss intervention with no active faith component .  Fifty-nine overweight/obese black women were r and omized to one of the two interventions . Although the results were not statistically significant , the effect size suggests that the addition of the faith component improved results . These promising preliminary results will need to be tested in an adequately powered trial Most faith-based obesity intervention research has been conducted in African-American Protestant churches . However , Catholic communities might also benefit from a faith-tailored approach . Overweight Catholic individuals ( n = 34 , 71 % female ) were r and omized to a Catholic-tailored or st and ard behavioral 16-week group weight control program . Both conditions experienced significant weight losses ( Catholic-tailored : -8.1 + 4.1 % , St and ard : -7.9 + 4.2 % ) ; however , treatment satisfaction was significantly greater in the Catholic-tailored program . The Catholic-tailored program experienced trends for greater attendance , more completed self-monitoring journals , and smaller weight regain six months post-treatment than the st and ard program . Catholic-tailored programs may represent a feasible , culturally acceptable and effective approach to weight loss/maintenance in this faith community Spiritual Self-Schema ( 3-S ) therapy is a manual-guided intervention for increasing motivation for HIV prevention that integrates a cognitive model of self within a Buddhist framework suitable for people of all faiths . In this controlled study , 72 methadone-maintained clients received either st and ard care and 8 weeks of 3-S therapy , or st and ard care alone . At treatment completion , 3-S clients reported significantly greater increases in spiritual practice s , expression of spiritual qualities , and motivation for HIV prevention . They were also less likely to have engaged in HIV risk behavior . Correlational analyses showed that attendance at 3-S therapy sessions  was significantly positively related to spiritual practice at treatment completion and to motivation for HIV prevention , and that both attendance at 3-S sessions and motivation for HIV preventive behavior were significantly negatively related to HIV risk behavior . Completion of 3-S therapy predicted posttreatment HIV preventive behavior , controlling for pretreatment behavior , demographics , and addiction severity measures ( odds ratio = 8.89 ; 95 % confidence interval = 1.62 - 48.93 ) The authors evaluated an 8-week , 2-hr per week training for physicians , nurses , chaplains , and other health professionals using  nonsectarian , spiritually based self-management tools based on passage meditation ( E. Easwaran , 1978/1991 ) . Participants were r and omized to intervention ( n = 27 ) or waiting list ( n = 31 ) . Pretest , posttest , and 8- and 19-week follow-up data were gathered on 8 measures , including perceived stress , burnout , mental health , and psychological well-being . Aggregated across examinations , beneficial treatment effects were observed on stress ( p = .0013 ) and mental health ( p = .03 ) . Treatment effects on stress were mediated by adherence to practice s ( p = .05 ) . Stress reductions remained large at 19 weeks ( 84 % of the pretest st and ard deviation , p = .006 ) . Evidence suggests this program reduces stress and may enhance mental health OBJECTIVE Reminiscence therapy has been reported to improve the well-being in patients with dementia . However , few studies have examined the effects of spiritual reminiscence , which emphasizes on reconnecting and enhancing the meaning of one 's own experience , on patients with dementia . Therefore , this study aim ed to investigate the effects of spiritual reminiscence on hope , life satisfaction , and spiritual well-being in elderly Taiwanese with mild or moderate dementia . METHODS A r and omized controlled trial was conducted on 103 patients with mild or moderate dementia recruited from a medical center in central Taiwan . The patients were r and omly assigned to either a 6-week spiritual reminiscence group ( n = 53 ) or control group ( n = 50 ) . The  Herth Hope Index , the Life Satisfaction Scale , the Spirituality Index of Well-Being  were administered before and after the 6-week period . RESULTS The interaction terms between group and time for the three outcome measures were found to be significant ( P < 0.001 ) , indicating that the changes over time in them were different between the intervention and control groups . CONCLUSIONS Findings of this r and omized controlled trial showed that hope , life satisfaction , and spiritual well-being of elderly patients with mild or moderate dementia could significantly be improved with a 6-week spiritual reminiscence intervention This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of Project ACTS : About Choices in Transplantation and Sharing , which was developed to increase readiness for organ and tissue donation among African American adults . Nine churches ( N = 425 participants ) were r and omly assigned to receive donation education material s currently available to consumers ( control group ) or Project ACTS educational material s ( intervention group ) . The primary outcomes assessed at 1-year follow-up were readiness to express donation intentions via one ’s driver ’s license , donor card , and discussion with family . Results indicate a significant interaction between condition and time on readiness to talk to family such that participants in the intervention group were 1.64 times more likely to be in action or maintenance at follow-up than were participants in the control group ( p = .04 ) . There were no significant effects of condition or condition by time on readiness to be identified as a donor on one ’s driver ’s license and by carrying a donor card . Project ACTS may be an effective tool for stimulating family discussion of donation intentions among African Americans although additional research is needed to explore how to more effectively affect written intentions OBJECTIVE The aim of this r and omized controlled trial for patients with advanced cancer receiving radiation therapy  was to determine the effect of a multidisciplinary intervention on spiritual quality of life ( QOL ) at the end of the intervention ( week 4 ) and at two follow-up time points ( weeks 26 and 52 ) . METHODS One hundred thirty-one persons were r and omized to either the intervention or control ( forms only ) groups . The intervention included six 90-min in-person sessions based on the physical , emotion , social , and spiritual domains of QOL . Three sessions included the spiritual component . Caregivers were present for four sessions , one which included a spiritual component . Ten follow-up phone calls were made to the patients in the intervention group during the 6-month follow-up period . Patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy : General Scale , the Linear Analog Self- Assessment which includes an assessment of spiritual QOL , and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being ( FACIT-Sp ) at enrollment , and weeks 4 , 27 , and 52 . RESULTS Following the intervention , the intervention group demonstrated improved spiritual QOL on the FACIT-Sp , whereas the spiritual QOL of the control group decreased , result ing in significant mean changes between groups ( total score : 1.7 vs. -2.9 ; p < 0.01 ; meaning/peace subscale : 1.0 vs. -3.5 ; p < 0.01 ; faith subscale : 3.1 vs. -1.7 ; p = 0.04 ) . CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that a multidisciplinary intervention which includes a spiritual component can maintain the spiritual QOL of patients with advanced cancer during radiation therapy This postdoctoral study on the application of the RIME intervention in women that had undergone mastectomy and were in treatment , aim ed to promote psychospiritual and social transformations to improve the quality of life , self-esteem and hope . A total of 28 women participated and were r and omized into two groups . Brief Psychotherapy ( PB ) ( average of six sessions ) was administered in the Control Group , and RIME ( three sessions ) and BP ( average of five sessions ) were applied in the RIME Group . The quantitative results indicated a significant improvement ( 38.3 % ) in the Perception of Quality of Life after RIME according to the WHOQOL , compared both to the BP of the Control Group ( 12.5 % ) , and the BP of the RIME Group ( 16.2 % ) . There was a significant improvement in Self-esteem ( Rosenberg ) after RIME ( 14.6 % ) compared to the BP of the Control Group ( worsened 35.9 % ) , and the BP of the RIME Group ( 8.3 % ) . The improvement in well-being , considering the focus worked on ( Visual Analog Scale ) , was significant in the RIME Group ( bad to good ) , as well as in the Control Group ( unpleasant to good ) . The qualitative results indicated that RIME promotes creative transformations in the intrapsychic and interpersonal dimensions , so that new meanings and /or new attitudes emerge into the consciousness . It was observed that RIME has more strength of psychic structure , ego strengthening and provides a faster transformation that BP , therefore it can be indicated for crisis treatment in the hospital environment
OBJECTIVE To examine whether  religious and spiritual interventions ( RSIs )  can promote physical health and quality of life in individuals .