Religion/spirituality and health outcomes in a secondary analysis of data on patients recovering from an acute myocardial infarction: Implications for music therapy

This study began with a description of music therapy case studies that instigated questions about the relationship between religious and spiritual variables and health outcomes. Cardiovascular disease was chosen to assess for health outcomes because it is the most prominent cause of mortality and morbidity. A heart attack affects not only physical health but psychosocial well being which may include religious or spiritual values.;A secondary analysis of data investigated variables of religion as a source of strength and comfort and religious coping as predictors of quality of life and symptom burden in people recovering from a heart attack. The PREMIER database at the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City Missouri was accessed with permission and included nearly 2500 respondents.;All analyses were adjusted for baseline quality of life or baseline symptom burden and for risk factors relevant to recovering from a heart attack. Results showed that baseline levels of religion as a source of strength and comfort did not predict higher quality of life or less symptom burden at one month and six month follow up interviews. In fact, at one month follow up, results indicated that the religious variable predicted more symptom burden. Further analyses (ANCOVA) combining religion as a source of strength and comfort and religious coping showed that religion was not a significant predictor of quality of life beyond level of social support or health locus of control. However, respondents with a higher level of baseline rating for religion as a source of strength and comfort were most likely to use religion for coping at one month follow up.;Although this study did not demonstrate a strong relationship between religious variables and health related quality of life, most respondents viewed religion as a valuable source of strength and comfort. More research is needed to discover the multifaceted relationship between religious and spiritual variables and cardiac health outcomes.;Implications for the potential of music therapy as a viable modality in conjunction with religion or spirituality and cardiac care were discussed.