title: Effect of a Faith-Based Education Program on Self-Assessed Physical, Mental and Spiritual (Religious) Health Parameters.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of attending a faith-based education program (FBEP) on self-assessed physical, mental and spiritual health parameters. The study was designed as a prospective, observational, cohort study of individuals attending a 5-day FBEP. Out of 2650 sequential online registrants, those previously unexposed to the FBEP received automated invitations to complete 5 sequential Self-Assessment Questionnaire's (SAQ's) containing: (1) Duke University Religion Index (DUREL); (2) Negative Religious Coping (N-RCOPE); (3) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); (4) Center for Epidemiology and Statistics-Depression Scale (CES-D); (5) Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ); and the (6) State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Pre-attendance SAQ (S1) was repeated immediately post-FBEP (S2), at 30 days (S3), 90 days (S4) and after 1 year (S5). Of 655 invited, 274 (42 %) succeeded, 242 (37 %) failed and 139 (21 %) declined to complete S1. Of the 274, 37 (14 %) were excluded at on-site interview; 26 (9 %) never attended the FBEP (i.e., controls: 5♂; 21♀; 27-76 years); and 211 (77 %) participated (i.e., cases: 105♂; 106♀; 18-84 years) and were analyzed over time: 211 (S1); 192 (S2); 99 (S3); 52 (S4); 51 (S5). IRB approval was via the Human Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University. DUREL showed significant, sustained changes in Intrinsic Religiosity. N-RCOPE showed significant, lasting improvement. In others, median values dropped significantly immediately after the FBEP (S1:S2) for STAI-State p < 0.0001; PSS p < 0.0001; BIPQ p < 0.0001; and CES-D p < 0.0001; and at 1 month (S1:S3) for STAI-Trait p < 0.001; all changes were sustained (S3 through S5). This FBEP produced statistically and clinically significant changes; these lasted in those followed up >1 year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Parow, South Africa. fransc@sun.ac.za.|Division of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch, Room 0073 (Baromedical Facility); Education Building, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg Campus, Parow, 7500, South Africa. fransc@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Frans J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7800-9783
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Cronjé
authors.affiliation: Be in Health Inc, Thomaston, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Levenda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sommers
authors.affiliation: Be in Health Inc, Thomaston, GA, USA.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Parow, South Africa. wajm@sun.ac.za.|Division of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch, Room 0073 (Baromedical Facility); Education Building, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg Campus, Parow, 7500, South Africa. wajm@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: W A J
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Meintjes
authors.affiliation: South African Military Health Service, Institute for Maritime Medicine, Simon's Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Van Wijk
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, MUSC, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012647:Self-Assessment; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mental health; Religion; Religion and Medicine; Religion and Psychology; Spirituality