Centrality of spirituality/religion in the culture of palliative care service in Indonesia: An ethnographic study

Abstract

Experiencing life-threatening illness could impact on an individual's spirituality or religious beliefs. In this paper, we report on a study which explored cultural elements that influence the provision of palliative care for people with cancer. A contemporary ethnographic approach was adopted. Observations and interviews were undertaken over 3 months with 48 participants, including palliative care staff, patients, and their families. An ethnographic data analysis framework was adopted to assist in the analysis of data at item, pattern, and structural levels. Religion was identified as central to everyday life, with all participants reporting being affiliated to particular religions and performing their religious practices in their daily lives. Patients' relatives acknowledged and addressed patients' needs for these practices. Staff provided spiritual care for the patients and their relatives in the form of religious discussion and conducting prayers together. An understanding that religious and spiritual practices are integral cultural elements and of fundamental importance to the holistic health of their patients is necessary if health-care professionals are to support patients and their families in end-of-life care.

The experience of family caregivers of patients with cancer in an Asian country: A grounded theory approach

“…45,49,52 Religion has a central role in everyday life for many Indonesian people. 8 Our study revealed that caregivers pray more intensively and more frequently than they did before, which confirms previous findings that religion and spirituality are used as a coping mechanism. 8,47,48 In fact, those who use positive religious coping reported higher caregiver satisfaction than those who did not use such coping.…”

‘My wife is my doctor at home’: A qualitative study exploring the challenges of home-based palliative care in a resource-poor setting

“…As discussed, family caregivers also reported an underpinning moral duty to provide care due to the fear of living with guilt if the patient died due to their neglect 11,53 or the patient committing suicide due to self-stigma. 53 Reciprocity of care and what this means to the caregivers' sense of giving back to their loved ones are highlighted in other studies, 10,51,54 and this is underpinned by a strong cultural/religious belief 55 as is the idea that family caregivers must be supported. 56 Pain management is a dominant feature of palliative care, 57 and this is particularly complex in resource-poor settings where access to morphine is problematic.…”

A qualitative study on caregivers and patients perceptions about Alzheimer’s and related dementias in southwestern Uganda

“…This is proven in another study where it was found out that basically people lack specific information and treatment about the condition (21). Surprisingly most patients were contrary to their caregivers they think probably medical treatment could be of more relief or alternatively spiritual consecration that is believing and trusting the almighty God though prayers and being laid of hands upon them by the spiritual elders of which they could be church leaders (20).…”

“…Aging appeared to be more common for both patients and caregivers and this is true because they see it is common in elderly people. However, they do not know at which age does it normally happen and also distinguish between what is normal forgetfulness and the abnormal one or the extent to which someone is termed to have a disease (16)(17)(18)(19) while others attribute it to witchcraft and this could explain why most of caregivers and patients do not take the disease to be a medical condition and instead they seek other ways of care like spiritual healing and traditional care (17,19,20) Perceived Treatment…”