Ethnic differences in the perception of prayer and consideration of joint arthroplasty.
BACKGROUND
Ethnic differences in utilization of arthroplasty may reflect differences in health-related attitudes and beliefs.


OBJECTIVE
To examine ethnic differences in the perception and use of prayer in the treatment of arthritis and its role in patients' decision making toward surgery.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
VA Primary Care Clinics.


METHODS
Patients older than 50 years with chronic moderate-to-severe knee pain, hip pain, or both.


METHODS
The "helpfulness of prayer" in the treatment of arthritis and patients' attitude toward joint arthroplasty.


RESULTS
Five hundred ninety-six veterans; 44% black patients, 56% white patients. Groups were comparable with respect to age (65 +/- 9.5 vs. 66 +/- 9), disease severity as assessed by WOMAC (47 +/- 17 vs. 45 +/- 17). Black patients scored higher than white patients on the religiosity scale (77 +/- 17 vs. 70 +/- 21). In multivariate analysis, black patients were more likely than white patients to perceive prayer as helpful in the management of their arthritis (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.19, 3.72). Black patients were also less likely than white patients to consider surgery for severe hip/knee pain (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.34, 0.99); this relationship between ethnicity and consideration of surgery is mediated by perceptions of "helpfulness of prayer." The odds ratio for this relationship changes to 0.70 (P = 0.215).


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample, black patients were more likely than white patients to perceive prayer as helpful and to have actually used prayer for their arthritis. Perception of helpfulness of prayer may be an important explanatory variable in the relationship between ethnicity and patients' decision in considering arthroplasty.
Ang
Dennis C
DC
Louis Stokes Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Ibrahim
Said A
SA
Burant
Chris J
CJ
Siminoff
Laura A
LA
Kwoh
C Kent
CK
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D029221:Faith Healing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000601:surgery; D010465:Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*