Evidence-Based Medicine Takes On Religion

Turns out that patients undergoing cardiac surgery do not benefit from prayer. In fact, data suggests that prayer might actually be harmful.

This randomized, multicenter, parallel group study, published in the American Heart Journal, reported on 1,802 patients at six hospitals. The Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) Study divided coronary artery bypass patients into 3 groups: Group 1 was prayed for by one of three congregations but had no idea that they were being prayed for. Group 2 was not prayed for and also had no idea about it. And Group 3 was prayed for and knew all about it.

The primary endpoint was complications and mortality within the first 30-days post-operatively. Investigators found that there was no difference between those who were prayed for and those who were not. Furthermore, those who were aware that they were being prayed for actually fared worse than either of the first 2 groups.
Their complications were at 59 percent, against 51 percent in the other groups. And 18 percent suffered serious complications such as a new heart attack or stroke, against 13 percent among those who did not receive the prayers, according to the the authors.

The exorbitantly pricey study, costing upwards of 2.4 million dollars, was funded by the John Templeton Foundation (www.templeton.org).