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Posted by Sue (MN~Sue) on 11/24/2002, 11:28 am It may follow logically that faith in God can build self-confidence. But does that self-confidence translate in the ability to heal? That's the question Pennsylvania researchers are trying to answer after initial studies seemed to indicate that cardiac patients who have a strong religious faith have greater confidence in their abilit! y to perform tasks and complete their rehabilitation. According to a story by the Associated Press Researchers at Geisinger Medical Center and Bucknell University are expanding their study to determine whether those with a strong religious faith also show long-term improvement in their cardiovascular health. A pilot study identified 21 patients who had recently had a first heart attack or undergone bypass surgery. Patients were surveyed to determine their spiritual beliefs and religious practices before beginning their rehabilitation regimens and again after the 12-week program was completed, the AP reported. Chris Boyatzis, a psychology professor at Bucknell, presented the findings in September at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. "The more religious they were, the more they improved," Boyatzis said. "The more religious faith they had, the more faith they had in their own ability to complete tasks and to function." Timothy McConnell, director of cardiac rehabilitation at Geisinger, a 437-bed hospital in Danville that is funding the study, said the next step is to expand the progam to 100 patients and to study any possible link between their religious faith and improvement in their health. Link: Article Online
The Stronger the Religious Faith, the Stronger the Confidence
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