Using prayer to help manage pain and stress in sickle cell disease
A Pilot Study of Everyday Stress and Pain Intensity Reduction Intervention Via Tongues and Understanding Study in Adult Outpatients With Sickle Disease (ESPIRITU Study)
This study is testing if combining prayer with self-management techniques can help adults with sickle cell disease feel less pain and stress.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Florida Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Gainesville, Florida) |
| Trial ID | NCT06580067 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research aims to evaluate the feasibility of the Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH) intervention, which combines self-management techniques with intercessory prayer to help adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) manage pain and stress. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group that engages in prayer sessions and tracks their pain and stress or a control group that only tracks their symptoms. The study will assess the immediate effects of the intervention on pain, stress, sleep quality, and opioid use over a week. The goal is to gather preliminary data for a larger randomized controlled trial.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease who experience pain and are open to receiving healing prayers.
Not a fit: Patients who are legally blind or unable to complete study measures due to physical or cognitive limitations may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could provide a non-drug approach to reducing pain and stress for patients with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of combining prayer with self-management for SCD is novel, similar interventions in other contexts have shown promise in reducing stress and improving health outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Has SCD diagnosis; * Reports pain 3 or greater in the previous 24 hours (0-10 scale) * Speaks and reads English * 18 years of age or older * Uses opioid analgesics on "as needed" or "continuous" basis * Allows healing prayers to be offered for them in the name of Jesus Christ Exclusion Criteria: * Legally blind * Physically or cognitively unable to complete study measures
Where this trial is running
Gainesville, Florida
- University of Florida — Gainesville, Florida, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Miriam O Ezenwa,, PhD, RN — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Miriam O Ezenwa, PhD, RN
- Email: moezenwa@ufl.edu
- Phone: 352-273-6344
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.