Relationship between different dimensions of prayer and spiritual health of patients treated with hemodialysis

Spiritual, physical and mental health is disturbed in s ome hemodialysis patients. Religious behaviours specially prayer can increase spiritual energy and positive attitude in patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of prayer with the spiritual health of hemodialysis patients.

This descriptive correlation study performed on hemodialytic patients refered to Imam Reza(AS) hospital of Amol city in 2009. 85 patients who had study conditions selected by purposed sampling method. Information collected through Meraviglia prayer frequency and Palutzian & Ellison spiritual health questionnaires. SPSS 16 statistical software and descriptive and inferential statistics tests (Pearson correlation, ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test) were used to analyze data.

Frequency of prayer was high in 96% of samples. The frequency of prayer was high in 96% of samples. 85% had the experience of prayer and 87% had positive view to it. Spiritual health was high in 75% of samples. There was no significant relation between the frequency of prayer and spiritual health (p=0.3). Significant relations were seen between frequency of prayer and marriage (p=0.05) and also between spiritual health and age (p<0.01).

Frequency of prayer has no effect on spiritual health of hemodialytic patients. According to the dominancy of religious culture and beliefs of Iranian people, it is expected from health care staff to pay more attention to religious and spiritual dimensions in patients care.