“Effects of Remote, Retroactive Intercessory Prayer on Outcomes in Patients With Bloodstream Infection: Randomized Controlled Trial”, 2001-12-22 (; backlinks; similar):
Objective:To determine whether remote, retroactive intercessory prayer, said for a group of patients with a bloodstream infection, has an effect on outcomes.
Design: Double blind, parallel group, randomized controlled trial of a retroactive intervention.
Setting: University hospital.
Subjects:All 3393 adult patients whose bloodstream infection was detected at the hospital in 1990–6199628ya.
Intervention: In July 2000 patients were randomized to a control group and an intervention group. A remote, retroactive intercessory prayer was said for the well being and full recovery of the intervention group.
Main outcome measures: Mortality in hospital, length of stay in hospital, and duration of fever.
Results: Mortality was 28.1% (475⁄1691333ya) in the intervention group and 30.2% (514⁄1702322ya) in the control group (p for difference = 0.4). Length of stay in hospital and duration of fever were statistically-significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively).
Conclusion: Remote, retroactive intercessory prayer said for a group is associated with a shorter stay in hospital and shorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infection and should be considered for use in clinical practice.
What is already known on this topic: 2 randomized controlled trials of remote intercessory prayer (praying for persons unknown) showed a beneficial effect in patients in an intensive coronary care unit. A recent systematic review found that 57% of the randomized, placebo controlled trials of distant healing showed a positive treatment effect. What this study adds: Remote intercessory prayer said for a group of patients is associated with a shorter hospital stay and shorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infection, even when the intervention is performed 4–10 years after the infection.