Islamic religious leaders’ perspectives on faith-sensitive palliative care for Muslim patients in Ghana: Implications for guideline development
Ajaratu Lampinley, Celia J. Filmalter, Daniel OrogunAbstract
Objectives
Spiritual care is fundamental to palliative care, yet little is known about Islamic religious leaders’ (IRLs’) perspectives on supporting Muslim patients with serious illness in Ghana. This study explored IRLs’ understanding, supportive roles, and contributions to developing faith-sensitive palliative care guidelines.
Methods
This qualitative exploratory descriptive study was part of a larger multi-method project. Ten IRLs were purposively recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or virtually, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Findings were interpreted through Saunders’ Total Pain framework.
Results
Five interrelated themes emerged: (1) conceptualising palliative care as holistic and faith-sensitive care; (2) Islamic beliefs as resources for coping with serious illness and end-of-life care; (3) IRLs as providers of holistic and faith-sensitive care; (4) family-centred care and shared decision-making; and (5) barriers and opportunities for faith-sensitive palliative care. Participants emphasised hope and trust in Allah, prayer, Qur’anic recitation, family involvement, and collaboration between healthcare professionals and religious leaders. Limited awareness, inadequate infrastructure, and weak institutional support hindered the provision of faith-sensitive care.
Significance of results
IRLs play important roles in culturally responsive palliative care. Integrating Islamic spiritual care, collaboration with religious leaders, and family-centred communication into clinical practice and palliative care guidelines may strengthen holistic care for Muslim patients in Ghana and other multicultural African settings.