e20708 Background: A number of scientific trials assessing the positive impact of intercessory prayer attest to centuries of anecdotal evidence, despite debate of its mechanism. However, little attention has been afforded to patients with cancer and the effect such intervention has on quality of life, including spiritual wellbeing. This study aimed to assess the effect of remote, Christian intercessory prayer on cancer patients’ quality of life, specifically their spiritual wellbeing, including their search for meaning, peace, and faith. Methods: New, consecutive patients with cancer attending an Australian cancer centre, aged 18 years or above, able to read English, and give consent were recruited. With Ethics Committee approval, this prospective, double blinded randomized controlled trial only partially divulged the nature of the study to patients who were informed of the measurements but not the inclusion of randomization to an intervention. Specifically, patients were blindly, randomly allocated to receive distant, intercessory prayer from an established Christian prayer chain (intervention) or not to receive prayer (control). All patients completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-Sp) at baseline. The FACIT-Sp was re-administered six months later to assess the primary endpoint, a change in spiritual wellbeing. It was anticipated that 1000 patients were needed (allowing for 20% drop out) to achieve 80% power to detect hypothesized small differences (Cohen's d .20-.50) between groups (alpha = .05). Results: A total of 1003 eligible, consenting patients were accrued between June 2003 and May 2008. Intervention (n = 509) and control (n = 494) groups will be compared across baseline characteristics to identify any pre-existing differences. Between-within subject analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) will be used to assess whether any differences were evident between groups across measures of spiritual wellbeing and other facets of quality of life. Conclusions: The results of these analyses will be presented. It is hoped this research will provide further empirical support for the biopsychosocialspiritual model of health. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Randomized controlled and double‐blinded study of Caphosol versus saline oral rinses in pediatric patients with cancer