Muslim communities’ perspectives and preferences regarding end-of-life symptom management: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

TL;DR

This paper reviews how Muslim communities in the British Isles prefer end-of-life symptom management, emphasizing the importance of aligning care with religious and cultural values.

Contribution

The study provides a narrative synthesis of Muslim perspectives on end-of-life care, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive practices.

Findings

Muslim patients prioritize symptom management that aligns with religious and cultural values.

Family-based care is culturally expected to ensure a peaceful death.

Healthcare professionals face challenges due to unfamiliarity with Muslim religious needs.

Abstract

To provide a synthesis of the published research evidence on Muslims’ perspectives and preferences regarding end-of-life symptom management to inform future practice and research priorities aimed at providing sensitive end-of-life care.

Systematic review and narrative synthesis.

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ASSIA, The Cochrane Library and Global Health were searched from 1 January 1994 to 10 July 2024, alongside reference searches of included papers and hand searches of two journals.

The included papers presented primary research on end-of-life care among Muslims in the British Isles.

Data were collected on publication details, study aims, participants, methods and results. Studies were appraised using Gough’s weight of evidence framework. An inductive narrative synthesis consisting of three steps was conducted. This involved conducting a preliminary synthesis of findings, exploring relationships between studies and assessing the robustness of the synthesis.

18 papers were included in the synthesis. Patients prioritised conformity between religion, culture and end-of-life symptom management. Symptom management preferences were also influenced by patients’ desire to maintain a sense of control at the end of life. Family-based care is culturally accepted, and indeed expected, to achieve a peaceful death. Healthcare professionals experienced challenges in providing sensitive symptom management given their unfamiliarity with the religious needs of Muslims.

Co-design research methods are essential to better understand care priorities within diverse Muslim communities. Meaningful collaboration among patients, families and healthcare professionals is necessary to identify mutually acceptable and beneficial approaches to promote culturally and religiously sensitive end-of-life symptom management.

Figures