title: Muslim women's experiences with health care providers in a rural area of the United States.
abstract: This study used phenomenology to explore the experience of Muslim women through descriptions of their encounters with health care providers in a rural area. Participants (N = 7) were eligible for inclusion if the foreign-born woman had lived in the area for at least 2 years, had interaction with a health care provider within the last 6 months, and was able to articulate her experience either in English or through a interpreter. Data were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed for the emergence of reoccurring themes, employing decision trails. Constant comparative analysis was used to promote the integrity of the data. Three themes were identified: (1) perceived power of the provider, (2) religiously defined gender relations, and (3) being a stranger in the U.S. healthcare system. Education of the Muslim patient and the provider is needed to increase health care satisfaction and use by rural Muslim women.
authors.affiliation: Radford University, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001242:Assertiveness; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011209:Power, Psychological; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015144:Southeastern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*