title: American Muslim perceptions of healing: key agents in healing, and their roles.
abstract: American Muslims represent a growing and diverse community. Efforts at promoting cultural competence, enhancing cross-cultural communication skills, and improving community health must account for the religio-cultural frame through which American Muslims view healing. Using a community-based participatory research model, we conducted 13 focus groups at area mosques in southeast Michigan to explore American Muslim views on healing and to identify the primary agents, and their roles, within the healing process. Participants shared a God-centric view of healing. Healing was accessed through direct means such as supplication and recitation of the Qur'an, or indirectly through human agents including imams, health care practitioners, family, friends, and community. Human agents served integral roles, influencing spiritual, psychological, and physical health. Additional research into how religiosity, health care systems, and community factors influence health-care-seeking behaviors is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. apadela@uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Aasim I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Padela
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Killawi
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DeMonner
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heisler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult