Effects of prayer on the vital signs of patients with chronic kidney disease: randomized controlled trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of prayer on blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate in patients with chronic kidney disease and learn their perception of the intervention. METHOD A randomized controlledtrial, double blind with a sample of volunteers, randomized into an intervention group (n=42) and a control group (n=37). Questionnaires addressing socio-demographic, clinical and spiritual characteristics and the Duke University Religious Index were applied. Blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured. The prayer was conducted at three different moments on alternating weeks. The qualitative data were organized and analyzed through Thematic Analysis. RESULTS The sample consisted of 95 randomized volunteers. In the intra-group analysis, a statistically significant reduction (P<0001) of blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate was observed in all evaluations of the people who were prayed for. The qualitative analysis resulted in the themes Prayer in a "Place of Suffering" and Positive Evaluation and in the sub-themes Relief from Suffering, Hope for Improvement, and Coping with Hemodialysis. CONCLUSIONPrayer reduced blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate in patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease, and the volunteers’ evaluation of the intervention was positive.BrazilianClinicalTrials Registry: RBR-2zv39y.