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Research into experiences of Muslim cancer survivors may lead to new interventions, reduce disparities
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New research underway at University of Louisville School of Nursing will assess how factors such as cultural and religious influences affect the experiences of Muslim cancer survivors who live in the United States.
A grant from the American Nurses Foundation will fund one pilot study, and the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation has pledged funding for another large-scale study.
Results of both studies will be used to develop culturally and religiously sensitive interventions, including support groups, to improve quality-of-life and health outcomes among Muslim cancer survivors.
“Studying Muslim cancer survivor experiences has become increasingly important as the Muslim population continues to grow in the United States,” Fawwaz Alaloul, PhD, MPH, assistant professor at University of Louisville School of Nursing, said in a press release. “Lack of understanding by health care providers of Muslim cancer survivor experiences within the context of culture can create barriers that may interfere with health outcomes.”
HemOnc Today spoke with Alaloul about the research, as well as why it is important for U.S. health care providers to understand the factors that influence experiences of Muslim cancer survivors.
Question: How did the idea for this research come about?
Answer: There have been several studies like this conducted in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries. These studies showed religion has a great effect on Muslim health behaviors toward the cancer experience and involvement with health care. My goal with the pilot study is to begin to understand how Islamic religious beliefs and cultural values affect Muslim cancer survivor experiences.
Q: What will the research entail?
A: The pilot study, initiated in September, is planned to run through October. We hope to develop an understanding of the experience of Muslim cancer survivors in the United States. We also will conduct a larger-scale study to assess the differences among Muslims of African, Middle Eastern and South Asian descent who live in the United States, and we will create a system of interventions to improve their experience. One intervention will be social support groups so that they can express their feelings. One study assessed Muslim cancer survivors in the United States, but that study included only Muslim women with breast cancer from one Muslim subethnic group. We are including all cancer types and all Muslim subgroups so we get the experience of all Muslims residing in the United States.
Q: What impact do you hope the findings will have?
A: I hope this study and future larger-scale studies will help us move beyond describing the experience of Muslim cancer survivors and to develop empirically testable, religious and culturally sensitive interventions to reduce cancer disparities.
Q: Can you describe how t he cancer experience differs for Muslim patients?
A: For Muslims, religion has a great impact on all daily activities. In general, community and social support is very important in their life. In the United States, they may not have this type of support in their community. Additionally, many Muslims do not like to share their personal experience publicly; they do not share their psychosocial issues with others. This can greatly affect their cancer care. I conducted a small study about Muslim cancer survivors in the United States. I found these survivors do not like to talk about their cancer in public and do not want people to know that they have cancer. At the same time, they need to get support from their community to overcome their cancer.
Q: Are some of the holistic practices in which these patients participate safe and effective?
A: According to the religion of Islam, Muslims are strongly encouraged to seek treatment and care. Still, some Muslims use cultural and religious dietary supplements to help treat their cancer or relieve their symptoms. Black seeds and special herbs are one example. Many Muslims believe black seeds will cure many diseases. Some of these special herbs may interfere with their cancer treatment. However, if health care providers are aware of these things, they may discuss these dietary supplements with patients and may ask them not to use them while undergoing cancer treatments. One study showed that 85% of Muslim cancer survivors used dietary supplements to help them treat their cancer and manage their symptoms. The physician’s lack of understanding of these practices among Muslim cancer survivors could lead to adverse health outcomes, as there can be potential interactions between supplement use and prescribed medications.
Q: How might physicians initiate discussion s about cancer treatment and Muslim beliefs with their patients? How important is open dialogue in this situation?
A: Many Muslims express their concerns about the physician’s lack of knowledge of their opinions, religious practices and cultures. This lack of understanding is going to affect the relationship between health care providers and Muslim cancer survivors. Consequently, it is going to affect their health outcomes. It is very important that health care providers are aware of the Muslim culture and religion and how it influences their experience and other health outcomes, such as quality of life. For example, many Muslims do not consume products that contain gelatin — derived from pork — for religious reasons. However, some medications contain this substance. It is important for clinicians to know this so they can prescribe another treatment that does not have this ingredient, or at least discuss this with Muslim cancer survivors. Muslims are actually excused from certain religious practices or obligations when there is no other alternative.
Q: Where can clinicians or patients learn more about these studies?
A: They can send an email to fawwaz.alaloul@louisville.edu or call (502) 852-8396. Study participants should identify as Muslim; speak and read English, Arabic or Urdu; and be at least 18 years of age. Interviews can be conducted in person, over the phone or through video conference.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to mention?
A: My message for oncologists and other health care providers is to acknowledge, accept and discuss the religious and cultural needs of Muslim cancer survivors. Doing so is more likely to improve their health and survivorship care outcomes and eliminate health disparities. – by Jennifer Southall
For more information:
Fawwaz Alaloul, PhD, MPH, can be reached at University of Louisville, 555 S. Floyd St., Louisville, KY 40292; email: fawwaz.alaloul@louisville.edu.
Disclosure: Alaloul reports no relevant financial disclosures.