Self-reported health, and illness and the use of conventional and unconventional medicine and mind/body healing by Christian scientists and others

A cross-sectional national telephone survey was used to determine whether C hristian Scientists (N = 230), a religious group that uses mind/body (inclu ding spiritual) healing, self-report more or less illness than non-Christia n Scientists (N = 589). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of C hristian Scientists and non-Christian Scientists that, during the previous 12 months: a) experienced any of 13 common medical conditions or symptoms; and b) used conventional medicine, unconventional medicine, and mind/body ( including spiritual) healing. Fewer Christian Scientists experienced an ill ness or symptom than non-Christian Scientists (73% vs. 80%, respectively, p = .05). A multivariate analysis showed that Christian Scientists were less likely to have experienced illness than non-Christian Scientists (odds rat io [OR].66, 95% confidence interval [CI].44 to .99, p = .04). Similar propo rtions of Christian Scientists and non-Christian Scientists used some type of conventional medicine (74% vs. 78%, respectively), although Christian Sc ientists were less likely to take prescription medications than non-Christi an Scientists (p = .034). Although use of unconventional medicine was simil ar in both groups (52% vs. 45%, more Christian Scientists than non-Christia n Scientists used at least one type of mind/body medicine (67% vs. 42% p (. 00001), notably special religious services and spiritual healing. Additiona l studies are needed to determine whether there are health benefits associa ted with the use of conventional and unconventional medicine in combination with mind/body (including spiritual healing.