title: "Be patient and grateful"--elderly muslim women's responses to illness and suffering.
abstract: Muslims arriving as first generation immigrants in Western countries gradually grow old and increasingly appeal to Western healthcare. This study presents and discusses the perspectives of elderly (age > or =55) Muslim women on medicine, illness and suffering. We found that theological considerations, centring around God's almightiness, are central for these Muslim women dealing with illness and suffering in a meaningful way. This study concludes that spirituality is an important dimension of their patient care: it not only makes an impact on these patients' ritual needs (e.g. prayer), but also on the ways they deal with illness, suffering, and concrete medical decision-making. The findings are of particular importance for both Muslim and multi-faith hospital chaplains who might act as spiritual care references in medical teams, by informing physicians and nurses about potential specific sensibilities and perspectives of Muslim patients.
authors: Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Goedele.Baeke@theo.kuleuven.be
authors: Goedele
authors: G
authors: Baeke
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Wils
authors: Bert
authors: B
authors: Broeckaert
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D029221:Faith Healing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007514:Islam; D008875:Middle Aged; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D029181:Spirituality; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology