Accommodating Muslims in the Healthcare Setting

Introduction

In today’s society, it is very important for the healthcare professional to be educated about the culture of their patients. It can be seen that the number of patients who are Muslim are increasing throughout the healthcare system. It is challenging for healthcare workers to care for the needs of Muslim patients when they don’t understand their cultural beliefs. Muslims don’t necessarily have the same health beliefs, outcomes, or priorities that their providers have, therefore making it more difficult to come to a final healthcare decision (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) “This intercultural gap in understanding between clients and providers may result in poor care services and low levels of satisfaction” (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) Muslims are not being properly accommodated in healthcare settings because of a lack of education from healthcare workers about the Muslim culture and religion.

Review of the Professional Literature

As the number of Muslims increases in America, the Muslim culture is still widely misunderstood. The Islamic view of illness differs significantly from the views of Americans, therefore making it very difficult to care for them if there is a lack of education about their needs. “Despite the cultural diversity between Muslim groups, there is a common set of beliefs and practices that are shared by all Muslims, principally: the belief in Allah, the belief that the Qur’an is from God, and that Muhammad was the last prophet of God” (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) Health care providers should be educated on the Muslims practices relating to prayer, gender issues, modesty, fasting, bodily contact, and dietary and medication restrictions (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) When Muslims feel misunderstood in the healthcare system, it could aff...

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...parties, therefore making them less likely to compromise the beliefs of their Muslim patients.

Works Cited

Al-Oraibi, S. (2009). Issues affecting the care of the older muslim. Nursing & Residential Care, 11(10), 517-519. Retrieved from EBSCO host

Gatrad, A. R., & Sheikh, A. (2003). Treating muslim patients. Clinical Pulse, 74-75. Retrieved from EBSCO host

Halligan, P. (2006). Transcultural care. WIN, Sept, 34. Retrieved from EBSCO host

Mir, G., & Sheika, A. (2010). 'Fasting and prayer don’t concern the doctors . . . they don’t even know what it is': Communication, decision-making and perceived social relations of pakistani muslim patients with long term illnesses. Ethnicity & Health, 15(4), 327-342. Retrieved from EBSCO host

Mughees, A. (2006). Better caring for muslim patients. WIN, July/August, 24-25. Retrieved from

EBSCO host.