title: Spirituality in tobacco dependence: a Mayo Clinic survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With widespread interest in natural remedies and "wholistic" treatments, there has been a renewed focus on the impact of spirituality related alternative therapy for many current chronic diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the potential impact of spiritual beliefs on lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, we conducted a patient survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-section study was conducted using a 27-question survey of patients seen at the Mayo Clinic over a 14-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We invited all patients (smokers and nonsmokers) seen in several Mayo Clinic divisions to participate in this voluntary survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey included demographic information, history of tobacco use or nonuse, and assessment of spirituality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among the 501 patients who participated, 370 were nonsmokers and 131 were smokers. Compared with smokers, nonsmokers more often participated in religious activities such as regular weekly church attendance (48% vs. 24%), daily prayer, and Bible study (49% vs. 24%; P < .001). Current smoking was negatively correlated with religious activities. However, after adjustment for demographic factors, there was no significant difference in intrinsic spirituality (importance of religion) between the two groups (P < .130).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonsmokers are more likely to engage in religious activities such as prayer, Bible study, and regular church attendance. Further studies may be helpful to clearly define the potential impact of spirituality on smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. mcfadden.david@mayo.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: Ivana T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Croghan
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Piderman
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lundstrom
authors.forename: Darrell R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: J Taylor
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hays
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001633:Bible; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D026443:Spiritual Therapies; D029181:Spirituality; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult