Preprint / Version 1

Self reported benefits of participating in group prayer in a hospital outpatient setting: A cross-sectional observational study

Authors

  • Sanjeev Rastogi aAyurveda - Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow, 226003, India
  • Preeti Pandey aAyurveda - Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow, 226003, India
  • Kiran Maurya aAyurveda - Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow, 226003, India
  • Sumit Kumar aAyurveda - Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow, 226003, India
  • Ankita Varma aAyurveda - Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow, 226003, India
  • Chinmayi R aAyurveda - Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow, 226003, India
  • Girish Singh bDepartment of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

Keywords:

Prayer, Ayurveda, Hospital, Health

Abstract

Prayer had long been used as a tool to bring hope among patients suffering with intractable diseases. Most clinical researches conducted so far on prayer were done upon indoor patients. Effects of prayer involving patients and health care providers in a hospital outpatient setting have never been explored. Objectives This cross sectional study aimed to observe the self-perceived changes post prayer among patients and hospital staff involved in the health care delivery and who actually have participated in the prayer sessions. Material and method Survey was conducted with the help of a structured questionnaire on routine OP days at Ayurveda –Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center, Lucknow. Patients visiting the center for OP based consultation and hospital staff who has participated in any prayer session were eligible to participate in the survey. Results 49 hospital staff and 85 patients have participated in the survey. Among most important self-reported attributes following the prayer sessions in patients were Positive Attitude (84.70%), Optimism about cure (92.90%), Feeling of well-being (95.30%), Optimism about future (95.30%) and Changes in energy level (89.40%). Among hospital staff the important attributes were related to change in energy level (93.90%), increased empathy (93.90%), feeling of universal good (96.00%), less fatigue post prayer (69.40%), sustained effects (81.60%) and healthier feeling (81.60%). Conclusion This observational study suggests that a simple prayer session in outpatient department may be helpful in inculcating hope and building self-esteem among patients and can bring a better self-image, efficiency and connectedness in the hospital staff. Eventually, this may help in improving the outcomes and quality of care being provided at outpatient setting at any hospital. Keywords: Prayer, Ayurveda, Hospital, Health

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