title: Does Islamic spiritual program lead to successful aging? A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Successful aging is a pattern of aging that has gained much attention during recent years. One factor that has a negative impact on successful aging variables is hypertension. The phenomenon of aging when accompanied with hypertension promotes spiritual needs. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the Islamic spiritual program on successful aging in elderly patients with hypertension who were referred to health centers of Isfahan, Iran, in 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants (52 elderly patients with hypertension) were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. While the control group received training related to health promotion, the Islamic spiritual program was implemented in the experimental group for eight sessions in two health centers of Isfahan. The data collection tools consisted of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire developed by Goldberg and the satisfaction with life scale developed by Diener. The questionnaires were completed in three steps; pretest, posttest, and follow-up (1-month).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 20 and Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical tests showed that the mean score of general health and life satisfaction of the experiment group had a meaningful difference from that of the control group in the posttest stage (P < 0.001). This difference was also meaningful in the follow-up stage (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study indicated the effectiveness of an Islamic spiritual program on successful aging variables.
authors: Department of Adult Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Mahin
authors: M
authors: Moeini
authors: Department of Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Somaye
authors: S
authors: Sharifi
authors: Department of Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Zandiyeh
keywords: Aging; General Health Questionnaire; Spirituality; hypertension; satisfaction with life; successful aging