Spirituality and religiousity in a context of psychosocial cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

Aim. To investigate on psychological parameters of spiritiality and religiousness as events taking place during psychosocial rehabilitation of post myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Material and methods. Into the study, 103 patients (45 females) included, after an event of MI (≥3 days, during admittance). Mean age Me (Q1;Q3) =64,0 (56,0;77,5) y. o., females were older - 71,5 (66,5;80,3) y., males - 60,0(53,0;66,0) y. Comparison group (n=30) consisted of equal by demographics but with no significant somatic pathology paersons. The questionnaire was applied, of daily experienced spirituality, with ranging of experiences from "never" to "permanently" (from 1 to 6, respectively). Also, a semi-structured interview was done with further descriptive phenomenological analysis. Results. It is found, that the level of daily spiritual experience is at the level of "rarely or never", and a request to spiritual menanings itself is related mostly to the situation of disease than exists as a separate experience. The summ of points by the score was M±σ =34,32±7,08 of maximum 84; females had 36,02±8,44, males 33,05±5,61 (p=0,034). Comparison group had significantly higher score, but with low difference - 39,23±7,14 (p=0,001). In comparison, females also had higher score - 41,73±7,69 and 36,73±5,74 (in comparison p=0,053; in relation to the patients p=0,024 for females and p=0,027 for males). Conclusion. Quite a low level of the experienced spirituality, revealed in patients after MI can be interpreted as a potential cardiovascular risk factor, and at least is a point for further research.