In prior blogs we have reported our
findings in the general healthy population, but can the medically ill also
improve their wellbeing through Christian living? Can the same Biblical principles
apply in individuals suffering the emotional distress of sickness?
We recently examined this question in a cross-sectional survey of
patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (1). We evaluated self-reported religious
adherence to specific basic activities and knowledge of faith and personal comfort.
This specific analysis was limited to self-professed Christians.
The survey
included 248
patients from one clinical practice in Charleston, SC and showed that those who
were adherent to activities intended to create religious maturity (drawing
encouragement from other church members, reading Scripture or encouraging
others to have faith), and had at least a basic knowledge about their faith, demonstrated
greater comfort related to their illness and treatment. Specifically, comfort
was manifested as: a positive attitude towards their disease, a better ability
to cope with their symptoms, a belief that God was concerned about their diagnosis
and helped with their treatment.
When the findings were further
analyzed by assessing those subjects who were most 'adherent', compared to
those who were least adherent, an even greater separation between groups was
observed with respect to comfort. This finding may indicate that the more
serious a person is about the practice of their religion, the greater sense of
wellbeing they may derive from it.
This
study suggested that Christian practice may assist patients in better coping
with their disease and that it may possibly increase the quality of their life.
This study included patients with a
chronic ocular disease. Would the same principles also apply in patients with acute
or systemic disease?
Thanks for visiting. I hope you will
return next week for further discussion about the practical use of the Bible in
daily life.
WC
Stewart
1.
Stewart WC,
Sharpe ED, Kristoffersen CJ, Nelson LA, Stewart JA. Association
of strength of religious adherence to attitudes regarding glaucoma or ocular
hypertension. Ophthalmic Res
2011:45:53-6.
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