title: [Effectiveness of prayer in reducing anxiety in cancer patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of prayer on anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental study, with pre and post-intervention. Twenty patients admitted to treatment of continuous intravenous chemotherapy were recruited. The volunteers were evaluated through interviews using a questionnaire of sociodemographic, clinical and spiritual characteristics, the Index of Religiosity Duke University and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Vital signs were measured and collected salivary cortisol. The intervention was applied prayer and data collection occurred in three phases: first collection (baseline), pre and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data found between the pre and post-intervention samples showed different statistically significant for state anxiety (p= <0.00), blood pressure (systolic, p=0.00, diastolic, p=<0.00) and respiratory rate (p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prayer, therefore, proved to be an effective strategy in reducing the anxiety of the patient undergoing chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Csizmar
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erika de Cássia Lopes
authors.initials: Ede C
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Hollanda
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Iunes
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Talita Prado
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane da Silva Marciano
authors.initials: Cda S
authors.lastname: Grasselli
authors.affiliation: Wenceslau Braz Nursing School, Itajubá, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Giffoni
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Braga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D012067:Religion