The perceived role of Islam in immigrant Muslim medical practice within the USA: an exploratory qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Islam and Muslims are underrepresented in the medical literature and the influence of physician's cultural beliefs and religious values upon the clinical encounter has been understudied.


OBJECTIVE
To elicit the perceived influence of Islam upon the practice patterns of immigrant Muslim physicians in the USA.


METHODS
Ten face-to-face, in-depth, semistructured interviews with Muslim physicians from various backgrounds and specialties trained outside the USA and practising within the the country. Data were analysed according to the conventions of qualitative research using a modified grounded-theory approach.


RESULTS
There were a variety of views on the role of Islam in medical practice. Several themes emerged from our interviews: (1) a trend to view Islam as enhancing virtuous professional behaviour; (2) the perception of Islam as influencing the scope of medical practice through setting boundaries on career choices, defining acceptable medical procedures and shaping social interactions with physician peers; (3) a perceived need for Islamic religious experts within Islamic medical ethical deliberation.


CONCLUSIONS
This is a pilot study intended to yield themes and hypotheses for further investigation and is not meant to fully characterise Muslim physicians at large.


CONCLUSIONS
Immigrant Muslim physicians practising within the USA perceive Islam to play a variable role within their clinical practice, from influencing interpersonal relations and character development to affecting specialty choice and procedures performed. Areas of ethical challenges identified include catering to populations with lifestyles at odds with Islamic teachings, end-of-life care and maintaining a faith identity within the culture of medicine. Further study of the interplay between Islam and Muslim medical practice and the manner and degree to which Islamic values and law inform ethical decision-making is needed.
Padela
A I
AI
University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 655, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. aasimpadela@yahoo.com
Shanawani
H
H
Greenlaw
J
J
Hamid
H
H
Aktas
M
M
Chin
N
N
D000328:Adult; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000941:ethics*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D014481:United States