title: A randomized controlled trial to assess effectiveness of a spiritually-based intervention to help chronically ill adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Creative, cost-effective ways are needed to help older adults deal effectively with chronic diseases. Spiritual beliefs and practices 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 randomized clinical trial of 100 older, chronically ill adults were assigned to a Spiritual (SPIRIT) or Educational (EDUC--standard 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 +/- 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 < or = .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.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, USA. jmccauley430@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.forename: Steffany
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haaz
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tarpley
authors.forename: Harold G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D029181:Spirituality; D016896:Treatment Outcome