MUSLIM PATIENTS PERCEPTIONS OF FAITH-BASED HEALING AND RELIGIOUS INCLINATION OF TREATING PHYSICIANS

Background: While there has been a recent resurgence in faith-based healing across the world, there is limited data from the Muslim societies. In addition, the impact of the religious inclination of treating physicians on patient's perception of their treatment is not known. We sought to study this aspect of faith-based healing. Methods: This survey was carried out in Jan 2007 at two leading high volume public hospitals in Islamabad. A formatted 12 questions form was filled for each patient. For each question, there were three answer choices: "yes, no or don't know." The patients were admitted in the inpatient departments, including those in the intensive care unit if they were physically and mentally capable of answering the questions. Results: A total of 604 patients completed the survey. 91.2% were male and 8.8% were female. 8.9% were < 20 years of age, 56.5% were between 21-40 and 34.6% were > 40 years of age. 99.7% believed that leading an Islamic way of life (abstaining from forbidden things e. g. fornication, alcohol, cigarettes, illicit drugs etc.) leads to a healthier life. 95% of the patients believed that praying five daily prayers (salat) will keep them healthy. 98% believed that listening to the holy Qur'an would help in their healing. 98.8% believed in the intercessory role of prayers by others. 82% believed that giving charity (sadaqa) assists in healing. The most important findings were that 93% wanted to see their physicians pray for their health out-loud in front of them and 88% believed that having a physician, who is also a God-fearing person, will have a positive impact on their health. In view of the current social/cultural practices, 76% believed that wearing emulets (religious inscriptions) also helps in healing. Conclusions: This survey clearly shows that the overwhelming majority of patients still equated an "Islamic way of life" with good health. The most important finding documented for the first time, in this survey, was that patients wanted their physicians to pay due reverence to prayer (Dua). Similarly for most patients, religious inclination of the physician was perceived as an essential factor in the overall effectiveness of treatment.