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The Effect of Holy Qur’an Recitation on Depressive Symptoms in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

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Abstract

Patients with advanced renal failure often face considerable sociopsychological stress as a result of lifestyle changes due to the disease and its treatment. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of the Holy Qur’an recitation on depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. In this clinical trial, 54 hemodialysis patients were randomized to either an experimental (n = 27) or a control (n = 27) group. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline and at 1 month after the intervention. Participants in the experimental group listened to recitation of the Holy Qur’an, while those in the control group received no intervention. The mean BDI-II score at baseline was 33.6 (±6.7) for the experimental group and 29.3 (±9.0) for the control group; at the end of treatment, BDI-II scores in the experimental and control groups were 14.5 (±4.8) and 31.6 (±9.2), respectively. Results from the repeated-measures general linear model controlling for baseline differences indicated a significant treatment effect (F = 9.30, p = 0.004, Cohen’s d = 0.85). Holy Qur’an recitation has a significant effect on lowering depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Holy Qur’an recitation is an easy-to-implement and cost-effective strategy that may be used to supplement the treatment of depression in this setting in Iran.

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Acknowledgments

This study was based on a master’s thesis in Critical Care Nursing and a research plan approved by the Nursing and Allied Health School at Semnan University of Medical Sciences. We would also like to warmly thank the patients who participated in this study, as well as Semnan University of Medical Sciences who kindly gave permission and financial support for the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nursing Care Research Center, Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, 5 Kilometer of Damghan Road, Semnan, 3513138111, Iran

    Hassan Babamohamadi

  2. Nursing Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, 5 Kilometer of Damghan Road, Semnan, 3513138111, Iran

    Nemat Sotodehasl

  3. Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3400, Busse Building, Suite 0505, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Harold G. Koenig

  4. King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Harold G. Koenig

  5. Psychiatry Department, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80200, Abdullah Sulayman Road, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Faten Al Zaben

  6. Nursing Department, Nursing and Allied Health Faculty, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, 5 Kilometer of Damghan Road, Semnan, 3513138111, Iran

    Changiz Jahani

  7. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, 5 Kilometer of Damghan Road, Semnan, 3513138111, Iran

    Raheb Ghorbani

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  1. Hassan Babamohamadi
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Correspondence to Nemat Sotodehasl.

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Babamohamadi, H., Sotodehasl, N., Koenig, H.G. et al. The Effect of Holy Qur’an Recitation on Depressive Symptoms in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Relig Health 56, 345–354 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0281-0

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