Spiritual care in palliative care: Perspectives of Muslim family caregivers in a Malaysian context

OBJECTIVES: Spiritual care is a key component of holistic palliative care, particularly within Muslim communities where faith plays an important role in shaping illness experiences. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of Muslim family caregivers on spiritual care in palliative settings.

METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among 12 Muslim family caregivers of patients receiving palliative care in Kuantan, Malaysia. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to explore patterns and meanings related to spiritual caregiving.

RESULTS: Three major themes emerged: (1) understanding spiritual care as maintaining connection with God through religious practices, (2) caregivers' roles in providing holistic support, facilitating spiritual engagement, and offering emotional reassurance, and (3) challenges in delivering spiritual care, including patients' health limitations, practical constraints, and emotional burden. Spiritual care was perceived to enhance patients' sense of peace, acceptance, and coping.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Findings highlight the central role of family caregivers in sustaining spiritual well-being in palliative care. In the Malaysian context, integrating culturally informed spiritual care into nursing practice and supporting caregivers as partners in care may strengthen holistic and patient-centered outcomes.