BACKGROUND A spiritual intervention can possibly reduce the

BACKGROUND

A spiritual intervention can possibly reduce the complication rate from surger through the placebo effect, relaxation, social support or other mechanism

OBJECTIVES

Develop a spiritual intervention that would be practical to conduct during pre-and post operative period

Deliver maximum impact of spirituality to hospitalized patients to improve medical outcomes

Intervention to be used in pilot study

METHODS

1. A team of physician, clergy and registered nurse multiple meetings over 12 months. 2. Review of other spiritual interventions 3. Intervention reviewed by an interfaith advisory committee

RESULTS

5 Minutes: Scripture Reading 3 Minutes: Prayer 7 Minutes: Prayer Exercise

Passages from Christian Scriptures Now we will read from the scriptures Psalm 121: 1 -8 I lift up my eyes to the hills--- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you--- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 86: 1 -7 Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. Isaiah 40: 27 -31 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God? ” Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and

Protestant Prayer Gracious God, who has loved us with an everlasting love, a love that will not let us go, we thank you. We join together in praying for me, asking that Jesus the divine Physician may bring healing through the work of the earthly physicians, nurses, and other members of the health-care team. We pray that Your spirit may work in my, life to give courage, faith, and hope in this time of illness. Now we ask Your blessing upon me, your servant. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen Developed by Rev. David Drumel of Pastoral Care at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Memphis

III Prayer exercise For the next 5 -7 minutes we will do a prayer exercise- I am going to ask you to do the following 7 steps Step 1: Pick a focus word, phrase or prayer. Use something from your religious tradition. (Offer to Christian “the Lord is my shepherd”, “Our father who art in Heaven”, or “Our Father, Savior, or Hail Mary”, to Jewish “Shalom”, to Muslim “Allah”, To Hindu or Buddhist “Om”, or worlds such as “peace” or “love”. (30 seconds) Step 2: Sit or lie quietly in a comfortable position (30 seconds) Step 3: Close your eyes. (15 seconds) Step 4: Relax your muscles (15 seconds) Step 5: Breathe slowly and naturally, and as you do, repeat your focus word or prayer as you exhale. (60 seconds) Step 6: Assume a passive attitude. Do not worry about how well you are doing. When other thoughts come to mind, simply say to yourself “oh well”, and gently return to repeating the word or prayer (60 seconds) Step 7: Repeat Step 5 (2 -4 minutes)

CONCLUSIONS

A spiritual intervention was successfully developed Further research to pilot the intervention for feasibility and effectiveness in reducing medical complications