The Selah study protocol of three interventions to manage stress among clergy: a preference-based randomized waitlist control trial

Fit with Faith: An Exploratory Study Examining a Behavior Change Intervention for African-American Clergy and Their Spouses

Fit with Faith is a 10-week, diet, physical activity, and stress reduction intervention for African-American clergy and spouses, which included: meetings, phone calls, a behavior tracking app. Survey, 24-h recall, accelerometer, anthropometric, and blood pressure data were collected. Wilcoxon signed ranked tests were used for analyses. In this one-arm study, clergy and spouses (n = 20) attended most meetings and calls, but only half posted daily goals or tracked behaviors using the app. Spouses' body mass index (BMI) decreased and physical activity self-regulation cognitive scores increased pre-post intervention. Statistically significant changes in BMI, systolic blood pressure, and self-regulations scores also were seen among younger (< 51 years) participants (n = 8). As positive changes were seen mostly among women and younger participants, more research is needed on how to engage all clergy in behavior change programs.

The Ignatian Examen in Medical Practice: A Model for Clinicians

St. Ignatius of Loyola created The Examination of Conscience (The Examen) as a daily practice for spiritual and moral formation by cultivating awareness, gratitude, and generosity. For five hundred years, people of various cultures and creeds have learned The Examen from the Jesuits and adapted it for personal reflection and spiritual growth. The practice of medicine requires dedicated time to reflect on personal and professional development, to improve oneself and advance patient care and health equity. Here we present a model for use of The Examen in medical practice.