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Prayer for Health Among U.S. Adults: The 2002 National Health Interview Survey

Department of Public Health Sciences, Section on Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063; rbell{at}wfubmc.edu

Cynthia Suerken, MS

Sara A. Quandt, PhD

Section on Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Joseph G. Grzywacz, PhD

Department of Family and Community Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Wei Lang, PhD

Section on Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Thomas A. Arcury, PhD

Department of Family and Community Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Data for the United States is limited on prayer for health, including associations with other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities. The 2002 National Health Interview Survey and Alternative Health Supplement data were examined for associations between prayer for health and demographic, health, and CAM use characteristics. Forty-five percent of adults reported some form of prayer for health. Use of prayer for health was associated with increasing age, ethnic minority status, lower socioeconomic status, southern/midwestern U.S. region, poorer health, and use of most forms of CAM. These data provide information about prayer for health in the United States. Further research could examine associations between prayer for health and healthrelated decisions, behaviors, and outcomes.

Key Words: prayer • complementary and alternative medicine • ethnic minorities • health behavior • National Health Interview Survey

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