Comparison of religious attitudes in patients with coronary artery disease and healthy people

Religious beliefs prevent the mental and physical illness, In addition reduce complications and physical symptoms of Diseases and reduce the duration of the disease and increase longevity. However, unfortunately, most of the health providers tend to ignore the religious issues in their cares. Given the importance role of religion on the physical, mental, and adherence to treatment in chronic patients, a study was conducted to compare the religious attitude in people with coronary artery disease and healthy patients. In this cross-sectional study with two was conducted by convenience sampling in a 6-month period through patients referred to Dr.Hashmat medical education hospital in Rasht and their family. During this period 320 eligible subjects (160 patients and 160 in the control group) were enrolled. Inclusion criteria for patients were coronary angioplasty results indicated the involvement of coronary artery or had a history of angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Inclusion criteria for the control group were no history of cardiovascular disease. The survey questionnaire consisted of two main parts, including Socio-demographic factors and religious attitudes. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney U and chi-square test). The mean score was 69.26±9.28 in patients and was 67.34±9.48 in healthy people. The Mann-Whitney test indicated a significant difference between the two groups in terms of general religious attitude (p<0.05). So that the patient group had higher scores of religious attitudes. The results of chi-square tests were significant relationships between age (p<0.0001), sex (p=0.003), marital status (p<0.0001), education level (p<0.0001) and social level (p<0.0001) in two groups. High levels of religious attitudes in patients towards healthy people could indicate the need of man to God in the face of the disease. It seems you can use these points to promote physical and mental health of patients and improve effective adherence of them.