PRAYER SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE

In a study published in "Research on Social Work Practice" the investigator, David H. Hodge, assistant professor of social work in the College of Human Services at Arizona State University, compiled all available studies on the use of prayer in aiding patients of either psychological or physical problems. He combined their statistics into one large body of data. The evidence was significantly in favor of the power of prayer.

He notes that an earlier meta-analysis conducted by Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School included only those involving patients undergoing heart surgery and was felt to be inconclusive. The one by David Hodge included all other studies as well. This may indicate that the patient is less involved. A praying doctor might make a difference.