Nurses and Muslim Patients: Two Perspectives on Islamic Culture in the Hospital

Abstract

Abstract Objectives 1) To find out nurses’ perspectives on their Muslim patients’ cultural aspects. 2) To find out Muslim cultural and religious aspects in the hospital setting from the Muslim patients’ point of view. 3) To contrast nurses and Muslim patients’ perceptions of Muslim religion and culture. Method Grounded Theory is performed using thorough interviews to collect data. Informants : nurses in hospital units (N=32), Muslim patients admitted into a public hospital in Almeria (Spain) (N=37). Results Nurses. Stereotypes determine their perspectives on Muslim patients’ cultural aspects. Despite not understanding them, they respect them. They perceive great cultural distance from Muslims. Muslim patients. Two main categories arise: variability in the way Islam is interpreted and followed and the fact that religion is left “in a second place”, putting a full recovery from illness before the precepts of Islam. Similarities with Andalusian culture are found. Conclusions Healthcare providers’ interpretation of Muslim characteristics is determined by stereotypes and prejudice. This contrasts with the heterogeneity found in terms of how the precepts of Islam are followed. In general, nurses are willing to learn about Muslim culture and they deem it positive to have greater cultural understanding and respect in order to improve healthcare.