TY - JOUR
T1 - "Between Wings of Hope and Fear"
T2 - Muslim Parents' Experiences with the American Health Care System
AU - Kolmar, Amanda
AU - Kamal, Arif H.
AU - Steinhauser, Karen E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2023.
PY - 2023/1/1
Y1 - 2023/1/1
N2 - Background and Objectives: Historically marginalized religious and cultural groups are at risk for lower quality of care than majority groups. No study to date specifically queries Muslim experiences with the American health care system (AHCS). We performed a thematic analysis of Muslim parents' interactions with the AHCS and how their background informs their approach to care. Methods: This was a qualitative study of Muslim parents of children with life-limiting conditions in the Research Triangle Area from December 2019 to March 2019. We conducted semistructured interviews with parents to assess their experiences with the AHCS. We probed interview transcripts using descriptive content analysis with NVivo10. Results: We interviewed 10 parents in the Research Triangle Area. All patients were female, most were married, most spoke at least one other language in addition to English, and most were not born in the United States. Several themes emerged highlighting open communication with care teams, willingness to share religious affiliations, and the importance of leaning into faith and accepting God's will. Conclusions: A thematic analysis of Muslim parents' interactions with the AHCS describes value in honest communication, mixed concerns about how providers will react to their religious affiliation, and emphasizes the importance of leaning heavily into faith and accepting God's plan. Future studies evaluating needs of Muslim patients, especially those with different diagnoses, language barriers, and a larger sample size will further delineate needs to minimize inequalities in care.
AB - Background and Objectives: Historically marginalized religious and cultural groups are at risk for lower quality of care than majority groups. No study to date specifically queries Muslim experiences with the American health care system (AHCS). We performed a thematic analysis of Muslim parents' interactions with the AHCS and how their background informs their approach to care. Methods: This was a qualitative study of Muslim parents of children with life-limiting conditions in the Research Triangle Area from December 2019 to March 2019. We conducted semistructured interviews with parents to assess their experiences with the AHCS. We probed interview transcripts using descriptive content analysis with NVivo10. Results: We interviewed 10 parents in the Research Triangle Area. All patients were female, most were married, most spoke at least one other language in addition to English, and most were not born in the United States. Several themes emerged highlighting open communication with care teams, willingness to share religious affiliations, and the importance of leaning into faith and accepting God's will. Conclusions: A thematic analysis of Muslim parents' interactions with the AHCS describes value in honest communication, mixed concerns about how providers will react to their religious affiliation, and emphasizes the importance of leaning heavily into faith and accepting God's plan. Future studies evaluating needs of Muslim patients, especially those with different diagnoses, language barriers, and a larger sample size will further delineate needs to minimize inequalities in care.
KW - Muslim patients
KW - marginalized population health care
KW - pediatrics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145955425&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/jpm.2022.0154
DO - 10.1089/jpm.2022.0154
M3 - Article
C2 - 35861545
AN - SCOPUS:85145955425
SN - 1096-6218
VL - 26
SP - 73
EP - 78
JO - Journal of palliative medicine
JF - Journal of palliative medicine
IS - 1
ER -