Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.42(6) > 1002865

Oh and Kim: Meta-Analysis of Spiritual Intervention Studies on Biological, Psychological, and Spiritual Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual intervention studies by examining biological, psychological, and spiritual outcomes.

Methods

From electronic databases 2522 studies were retrieved, of which 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies had 1411 participants. Two authors independently extracted data from the selected studies and assessed the methodological quality. The data were analyzed using the RevMan 5.1 program of the Cochrane library.

Results

Overall effect size of spiritual intervention on spiritual and psychological (depression and anxiety) outcomes were moderate (d=-0.65 to d=-0.76, p<.001). The effects on biological outcomes (pain and functional status) ranged from -0.51 to -0.39, respectively. No publication bias was detected as evaluated by a funnel plot. Spiritual intervention had a moderate effect on psychological and spiritual outcomes and a smaller effect on biological outcomes.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that spiritual intervention can relieve depression and anxiety. Further randomized controlled trials studies are needed to evaluate the effects of spiritual intervention on biological outcomes.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Flow of studies included from database search.
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Figure 2
Forest plot of effect size and 95% CI by spiritual intervention on spiritual outcomes.
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Figure 3
Forest plot of effect size and 95% CI by spiritual intervention on psychological outcome.
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Figure 4
Forest plot of effect size and 95% CI by spiritual intervention on biological outcome.
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Table 1
Characteristics of Included Studies (N=21)
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Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group; diff=difference; RCT=Randomized Controlled Trials; NRCCT=Non Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials; VAS=Visul Analog Scale; HADS=Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; DSEC=Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale; HDRS=Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; HARS=Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; SCL-90-R=Symptom Check List-90-Revision; CES-D=Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; FACIT-Sp=Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-spiritual; POMS=Profile of Mood States; STAI=Spielberger's State Anxiety Inventory; BPI-K=Korean Version of Brief Pain Inventory.

*Allocation concealment; Blind stated; <20% Attrition rate; §Calculation of sample size; 80% of the people are cancer patients).

Table 2
Characteristics of Spiritual Intervention Studies (N=21)
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Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Notes

This paper was supported by the Sahmyook University Research Fund in 2012.

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