Religiosity and Patient Activation and Health Outcomes among Hospital Survivors of an Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors
Abu, Hawa OzienFaculty Advisor
Catarina Kiefe; Robert GoldbergAcademic Program
Clinical and Population Health ResearchUMass Chan Affiliations
Population and Quantitative Health SciencesDocument Type
Doctoral DissertationPublication Date
2019-03-27Keywords
ReligiositySpirituality
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Patient Activation
Quality of Life
Readmissions
Survival
Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Cardiovascular Diseases
Clinical Epidemiology
Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
Public Health
Religion
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background: Religious involvement is widespread and may influence patient engagement with their healthcare (patient activation) and health outcomes. This dissertation examined the association between religiosity and patient activation, changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), readmissions, and survival after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: We recruited 2,174 patients hospitalized for ACS in Georgia and Central Massachusetts (2011-2013) in a prospective cohort study. Participants self-reported three items assessing religiosity – strength/comfort from religion, petition prayers for health, and awareness of intercessory prayers by others. Patient activation was measured using the 6-item Patient Activation Measure. Generic HRQOL was assessed with the SF-36®v2 physical and mental component summary scores. Disease-specific HRQOL was evaluated with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire Quality of Life subscale. Unscheduled readmissions were validated from medical records. Mortality status was obtained from national and state vital statistics. Results: After adjustment for several sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical variables, reports of strength/comfort from religion and receipt of intercessions were associated with high activation. Praying for one’s health was associated with low activation. Prayers for health were associated with clinically meaningful increases in disease-specific and physical HRQOL. Neither strength/comfort from religion, petition, nor intercessory prayers were significantly associated with unscheduled 30-day readmissions and two-year all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Most ACS survivors acknowledge religious practices for their health. Religiosity was associated with patient activation and changes in HRQOL. These findings suggest that religiosity may influence patient engagement in their healthcare and recovery after a life-threatening illness, buttressing the need for holistic approach in patient management.DOI
10.13028/k83s-5y72Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/31244Rights
Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved.ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.13028/k83s-5y72