title: Prevalence and characteristics of Australian women who use prayer or spiritual healing: A nationally representative cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and characteristics of users of prayer or spiritual healing among Australian women aged 31-36 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). The sample used in the current sub-study were participants from the 'young' cohort (1973-78) (n=8180) aged between 31 and 36 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Use of prayer or spiritual healing
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prayer or spiritual healing was used on a regular basis by 20% of women aged between 31 and 36 years in 2009. Women who had symptoms of chronic illnesses (p=0.001), women who had never smoked (p=0.001) and women who used other forms of CAM (p<0.001) were significantly more likely to use prayer or spiritual healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of women use prayer or spiritual healing on a regular basis. Further research is required to better understand their rationale for using prayer or spiritual healing and its perceived impact on health related outcomes and general well-being.
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Angela.Rao@uts.edu.au.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Rao
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Louise D
authors: LD
authors: Hickman
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Jane L
authors: JL
authors: Phillips
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Sibbritt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D026443:Spiritual Therapies / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Chronic disease; Chronic illness; Complementary and alternative medicine; Integrative medicine; Person centred care