Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomised controlled trial

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7327.1450

BMJ 2001;323:1450-1451 ( 22-29 December )

Beyond science?

Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomised controlled trial

Leonard Leibovici, professor.

Department of Medicine, Beilinson Campus, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tiqva 49100, Israel

leibovic{at}post.tau.ac.il

Objective: To determine whether remote, retroactive intercessoryprayer, said for a group of patients with a bloodstream infection,has an effect onoutcomes.
Design: Double blind, parallel group, randomisedcontrolled trial of a retroactiveintervention.
Setting: Universityhospital.
Subjects: All 3393 adult patients whose bloodstreaminfection was detected at the hospital in 1990-6.
Intervention: In July 2000 patients were randomised to acontrol group and an intervention group. A remote, retroactiveintercessory prayer was said for the well being and full recoveryof the interventiongroup.
Main outcome measures: Mortality in hospital, length of stay inhospital, and duration offever.
Results: Mortality was 28.1% (475/1691) in the interventiongroup and 30.2% (514/1702) in the control group (P for difference=0.4).Length of stay in hospital and duration of fever were significantlyshorter in the intervention group than in the control group (P=0.01and P=0.04,respectively).
Conclusions: Remote, retroactive intercessory prayer saidfor a group is associated with a shorter stay in hospital andshorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infectionand should be considered for use in clinicalpractice.

What is already known on this topic
Two randomised controlled trials of remote intercessory prayer (praying for persons unknown) showed a beneficial effect in patients in an intensive coronary care unit

A recent systematic review found that 57% of the randomised, placebo controlled trials of distant healing showed a positive treatment effect

What this study adds
Remote intercessory prayer said for a group of patients is associated with a shorter hospital stay and shorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infection, even when the intervention is performed 4-10 years after the infection

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Rapid Responses:

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