Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers

Traditional healing is a common practice in low and middle income countries such as Malaysia. Eighty percent of Malaysians consult traditional healers or “bomoh” at some time in their life for health-related issues. The purpose of our study was to explore why breast cancer patients visit traditional healers. This is a qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with 11 cancer survivors who sought both traditional and Western medicine. The findings revealed the following reasons for which patients seek traditional healers: (1) recommendation from family and friends, (2) sanction from family, (3) perceived benefit and compatibility, (4) healer credibility, and (5) reservation with Western medicine and system delay. These factors work together and are strongly influenced by the Malaysian cultural context. The issue with the Western health system is common in a developing country with limited health facilities

Sustainable Program Development in Cancer Education: A Case Study

The purpose of this session is to first discuss a study in progress on the factors and elements that either assist or impede the planning and implementation of a breast cancer education program in a middle-income country in Southeast Asia. Second, participants will be asked to share similar studies they are aware of or have been involved with, and practical experiences they have had with programs of this nature

The Islamic Healing Approach in Cancer Treatment

Islamic healing is frequently sought as a choice by Muslim cancer patients in Malaysia. Despite its widespread use, limited documented evidence is available on Islamic healing practice in cancer treatment. Such information gives better insight about Islamic healing in cancer treatment to adjust treatment policies and practices accordingly. The purpose of this study is to understand Islamic healing practice in conjunction with conventional medicine for cancer treatment. A qualitative approach was deemed appropriate in investigating patient perspectives and experiences related to Islamic healing. Sixteen cancer survivors who had received both conventional medicine and Islamic healing during their treatment were identified by referrals from support group members, healers, and friends as participants in the study. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed concurrently using the constant comparative method. Islamic healing treatment can be divided by 2 forms; 1) recitation of Quran verses alone and (2) mixed methods, which include the recitation of Quran, herbs and bless water. Islamic healing is structured similar to conventional healing and most Islamic healing occurs in the form of 2 main approaches, although there are minor variations within those approaches.   Keywords: Islamic healing, cancer, cancer patient

Why cancer patients seek Islamic healing

Islamic healing is frequently referred to as the treatment of choice by many Muslim cancer patients in Malaysia. Despite its widespread use, there is limited information relating to patients’ healing preferences. With rising cancer rates in the country, this issue has become a concern to public health policy makers. The purpose of this study was to understand why cancer patients seek Islamic healing. This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews with 18 cancer patients. The findings indicate three main reasons: (1) recommendations from family, friends and doctors; (2) belief in Islamic healing and (3) the perceived ineffectiveness and dissatisfaction with conventional treatments. Islamic healing will likely continue to be popular complementary cancer treatment in Malaysia as it is grounded in strong cultural and religious beliefs

The Malay Muslim cancer patients’ perspectives on Islamic healing cancer treatment

Cancer patients want to be treated as a whole person including their physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions. For Muslim, they tend to use healing methods that are related to their Islamic tenets. Therefore, there is a growing number of Malay Muslim cancer patients seeking Islamic healing, but little empirical work exists on the use of Islamic healing. The purpose of this study is to understand: (1) why Malay Muslim cancer patients seek Islamic healing, (2) Islamic healing treatment, and (3) Islamic healing benefit and role in cancer treatment. A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews with 15 Malay Muslim women cancer patients that sought both conventional system and Islamic healing from 4 different regions in Peninsular Malaysia. The participants were selected from purposive sampling and snowball tehnique. The following are the reasons cancer patients seek Islamic healing; (1) recommendation from family, friends and doctors, (2) belief in Islamic healing and (3) ineffectiveness or dissatisfaction with the conventional treatment. Islamic healing treatment can be categorized into two forms; (1) recitation of Quranic verses as a main method with du‘a and Sunnah (voluntary) salat and (2) a combination of herbs with recitation of Quranic verses, du‘a and healing water. Benefits and role of Islamic healing (1) provide physical and spiritual benefits and (2) as a complementary treatment to conventional medicine. The evidences suggest that Islamic healing will continue to be as a popular healing choice among Malay Muslims. The use of Islamic healing as a complementary treatment has its own potential as it is a holistic and natural healing. This finding is the first formal research of this type of study and needs to be considered by policy makers in providing a better health care system for the country

Why breast cancer patients seek traditional healers. Int J Breast Cancer. 2012;2012:689168[On line] F:\Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers.htm (date accessed 6/03/2015

Traditional healing is a common practice in low and middle income countries such as Malaysia. Eighty percent of Malaysians consult traditional healers or "bomoh" at some time in their life for health-related issues. The purpose of our study was to explore why breast cancer patients visit traditional healers. This is a qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with 11 cancer survivors who sought both traditional and Western medicine. The findings revealed the following reasons for which patients seek traditional healers: (1) recommendation from family and friends, (2) sanction from family, (3) perceived benefit and compatibility, (4) healer credibility, and (5) reservation with Western medicine and system delay. These factors work together and are strongly influenced by the Malaysian cultural context. The issue with the Western health system is common in a developing country with limited health facilities

The Islamic healing approach to cancer treatment in Malaysia

Islamic healing is frequently sought as a choice by Muslim cancer patients in Malaysia. Despite its widespread use, limited documented evidence is available on Islamic healing practice in cancer treatment. Such information gives better insight about Islamic healing in cancer treatment to adjust treatment policies and practices accordingly. The purpose of this study is to understand Islamic healing practice in conjunction with conventional medicine for cancer treatment. A qualitative approach was deemed appropriate in investigating patient perspectives and experiences related to Islamic healing. Sixteen cancer survivors who had received both conventional medicine and Islamic healing during their treatment were identified by referrals from support group members, healers, and friends as participants in the study. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed concurrently using the constant comparative method. Islamic healing treatment can be divided by 2 forms; 1) recitation of Quran verses alone and (2) mixed methods, which include the recitation of Quran, herbs and bless water. Islamic healing is structured similar to conventional healing and most Islamic healing occurs in the form of 2 main approaches, although there are minor variations within those approaches