Impact of cancer on Moslem patients in Morocco

Abstract

One thousand and six hundred patients (median age 49 years) were approached; 41% females and 74% from rural areas. There was a high rate of illiteracy (38%) and only 7% had higher education. Seventeen per cent were divorced, among whom 41% were divorced after diagnosis of cancer. Eighty-seven per cent had no medical insurance. All were Muslims; 49% practising believers and 51% non-practising. In the first group cancer represented a divine test that permitted acceptance of the disease. In the second group of 'non-practising believers', patients reported a feeling of culpability and 95% of them started taking up religious practices, often with extremism and sometimes in contradiction of medical advice. In both groups new behaviours were noticed; 450 women now wore the 'Hijab' (scarf), 19% used popular medicine and plants in their diet recommended by the Koran. While these results require replication they indicate changes in behaviour by those within the Moslem faith following a cancer diagnosis.

Spiritual Therapy in Coping with Cancer as a Complementary Medical Preventive Practice

“…The Persian version of the FACIT-Sp scale is an important and valid tool for the clinical assessment of, and research into, the spiritual well-being of Muslim Iranian and Farsi-speaking (Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan) patients in other regions of the world who are coping with cancer. This result was also observed in another validation study among Iranian patients,70,71 a Jordanian population,16 a sample from Saudi Arabia,25 a sample from Morocco27–29 and among Japanese patients 72. This indicates that cultural issues should be considered when applying a standard questionnaire in a heterogenous population context.…”

“…In one report, 695 participants (136 cancer patients, 161 informal careers, and 398 health care professionals) were recruited from oncology centers in four major regions of Saudi Arabia 26. The results of a large set of data on the psycho-social and religious impact of cancer diagnoses are reported by three independent research workers from Morocco 27–29. A qualitative study demonstrated that Malaysian Muslim women with advanced breast cancer look to their Islamic beliefs for peace and strength to deal with the illness 30.…”

Perspectives on care and communication involving incurably ill Turkish and Moroccan patients, relatives and professionals: a systematic literature review

“…Patients only refused life-sustaining treatments in cases where the patient was suffering from poor family relationships, pain or depression. Errihani et al (2008) found that patients with cancer who were not practicing Muslims (49%) often felt guilty, while active believers commonly accepted cancer as a divine test [51]. …”

Development of the Arabic Spiritual Care Intervention‐Provision Scale

“…Through prayer and meditation, many Muslims seek support and help from Allah during suffering and illness (Errihani et al . ). Moreover, many Muslim patients view their disease as a part of life, a test from Allah, and a way of atonement for their sins.…”