Faith Blinds People To Health Outcome

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 10 Sep 2009 - 20:00 PDT

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Belief in faith healing could jeopardise recovery from illness. This is the finding of a study presented today, 10th September 2009, at the British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology annual conference being held at Aston University, Birmingham.

Professor Tony Cassidy from the University of Ulster said: "For medical treatment to be most effective patients should follow medical or prescribed health advice. However it's possible that people who put their trust in faith healing may be less likely to adhere to medical advice."

The team at the University of Ulster questioned 766 people on their belief in and intention to use faith healing, and also asked them about their adherence to medical regimens - measured by questions such as 'I always take my medicine or tablets' or 'I sometimes decide not to take my medicine or tablets'. Preliminary results will be discussed at the conference.

"We found that belief and intention to use faith healing was a significant predictor of self reported non-adherence to a medication. Participants who believed strongly in faith healing were also more likely to say they were less satisfied with their GP," Professor Cassidy continued.

"Given that only about one in three people follow medical advice totally and about one in four put their lives at risk through non-adherence, it's important that health care professionals understand their patients' beliefs about alternative remedies, such as faith healing, so that they can anticipate when patients may not stick to medical advice, and help people to understand the risks they may be taking."

The British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology annual conference is taking place at Aston University, Birmingham from 9 - 11 September 2009.

Source
British Psychological Society

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