Methodological and ethical challenges while conducting qualitative research on spirituality and end of life in a Muslim context: a guide to novice researchers.

Publisher: MA Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9506762 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2052-286X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 13576321 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Palliat Nurs

Publication: London : MA Healthcare
Original Publication: London : Mark Allen Pub., c1995-

Ethics, Research* ; Islam* ; Qualitative Research* ; Spirituality* ; Terminal Care*; Death ; Humans

Abstract Spirituality could be understood as a personal belief, a relation with sacred, divine experience, a sense of purpose and meaning towards life, authenticity and connectedness. It is a continually evolving, highly complex, contextual, subjective, and sensitive construct. A continuous development is seen around understanding about spirituality and spiritual concepts, such as spiritual experiences, spiritual pain and spiritual distress, especially among patients and families at the end of life. The concepts, values, attitudes, and beliefs around spirituality, spiritual needs and expressions vary among different individuals, cultures, and religions. There is a dearth of literature around spirituality, especially among Muslim patients and families at the end of life. The complexities around the concept of spirituality in the literature raise several ethical and methodological concerns for a novice researcher while planning and conducting a study on spirituality during end-of-life care in a hospice setting, especially among a Muslim population. This paper aims to share some of the methodological and ethical challenges that can be faced by qualitative researchers while conducting research around spirituality and end-of-life care in an Islamic/Muslim context. Major challenges include defining the term spirituality, spirituality and culture, communication, power relations, language and translation, recruitment and selection of the participants, emotional distress, and reflexivity and reciprocity. Having an in-depth understanding of these challenges can guide researchers to address these issues adequately in their spirituality research in a Muslim context.

Keywords: End-of-life care; Ethical challenges; Muslim traditions of thought; Qualitative research; Spirituality

Date Created: 20201028 Date Completed: 20211028 Latest Revision: 20211028

20221213

10.12968/ijpn.2020.26.7.362

33108928