Table 5.
Qualitatively Assessed Theme and Subtheme Responses and Comparisons to the Appropriateness of Patient-Practitioner Prayer According to Advanced Cancer Patients, Oncology Physicians, and Nurses, n = 388a
| Themes and Subthemes | Advanced Cancer Patients (n = 69) | Oncology Physicians (n = 204) | Oncology Nurses (n = 115) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions for patient-practitioner prayer | 53 (77) | 144 (71) | 97 (84) |
| Awareness of patient’s spiritual background | 15 (22)b | 20 (10) | 28 (24)d |
| Concordance of religious/spiritual beliefs or practices | 12 (17) | 25 (12) | 13 (11) |
| Importance of an established patient-practitioner relationship | 12 (17) | 12 (6) | 7 (6) |
| Prayer is patient centered | 10 (14) | 11 (5) | 11 (10) |
| Appropriate context for prayer (e.g., patient facing death) | 10 (14) | 12 (6) | 17 (15) |
| Patient and/or practitioner feel comfortable | 9 (13) | 53 (26)c | 46 (40)d |
| Prayer initiated by patient | 8 (12) | 12 (6) | 17 (15) |
| Prayer initiated by practitioner | 8 (12) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |
| Practitioner feeling authentic or honest | 2 (3) | 50 (25)c | 25 (22)d |
| Potential benefits of patient-practitioner prayer | 27 (39) | 16 (8) | 20 (17) |
| Prayer can be a support for patients | 21 (30)b | 12 (6) | 16 (14) |
| Prayer can engender a better patient-practitioner connection | 9 (13) | 2 (<1) | 4 (1) |
| Critical attitudes regarding patient-practitioner prayer | 27 (39) | 55 (27) | 15 (13) |
| Prayer is beyond professional roles of physicians/nurses | 15 (22)b | 37 (18)c | 8 (7) |
| Religion/spirituality is private | 9 (13) | 17 (8) | 7 (6) |
| If requested, prayer is socially expected | 7 (10) | 2 (1) | 0 (0) |
| Positive attitudes regarding patient-practitioner prayer | 21 (30) | 14 (7) | 15 (13) |
| Prayer is intrinsically good and/or powerful | 12 (17) | 12 (6) | 12 (10) |
| Prayer is a part of holistic patient care | 11 (16) | 3 (1) | 3 (3) |
| Potential negative consequences of patient-practitioner prayer | 14 (20) | 49 (24) | 20 (17) |
| Prayer can cause relational misunderstandings | 8 (12) | 26 (13) | 8 (7) |
| Prayer can impose religious/spiritual beliefs | 5 (7) | 19 (9) | 10 (9) |
| Prayer can cause patient-practitioner relational boundary violations | 2 (3) | 12 (6) | 7 (6) |
| Alternatives to patient-practitioner prayer | 6 (9) | 40 (20) | 29 (25) |
| Offering private prayer or thoughts | 3 (4) | 25 (12) | 10 (9) |
| Offering a referral to pastoral care | 1 (1) | 1 (<1) | 7 (6) |
| Being respectful while declining prayer participation | 0 (0) | 15 (7) | 11 (10) |
| Other alternatives to prayer | 2 (3) | 2 (1) | 6 (5) |
a
Sample reduced from 391 because of missing data.
b
Top three subthemes cited by patients.
c
Top three subthemes cited by oncology physicians.
d
Top three subthemes cited by oncology nurses.