Self-caring in Islamic culture of Muslim persons with ESRD and hemodialysis: An ethnographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Culture and religion may influence self-caring of persons with End Stage Renal Disease on hemodialysis therefore the study aimed to explore self-caring in an Islamic culture of Muslim persons living with End Stage Renal Disease undergoing hemodialysis.

METHOD: This study is a qualitative ethnographic study. Purposive sample of 4 females and 8 males of Muslims on hemodialysis aged between 31 and 62 years old and length of undergoing hemodialysis between 11 months and 9 years 3 months were recruited by using several inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were being diagnosed End Stage Renal Disease and having known the diagnosis, having been undergoing hemodialysis at least 6 months, and never change treatment to peritoneal analysis or renal transplantation. Exclusion criteria applied in this study were hemodialysis persons with severe hyperventilation and edema, and loss of consciousness. Data were collected by using in-depth interviews, participant observation, and field note takings. Data analysis used the ethnonursing data analysis method.

RESULTS: Findings of the study revealed four categories that reflect meanings of and how informants care for themselves and how Islamic teachings and cultural values influences them. The categories emerged from the study are meaning of self-caring, actions in self-caring, Islamic influences to self-caring living and cultural influences to self-caring living.

CONCLUSIONS: Muslims on hemodialysis performed any activities or actions that reflected their efforts to perform their self-caring in order to survive or be healthy based on their own perspective. Islamic teachings were used as guidance in selecting treatments and performing their self-caring. Family members, nurses and other healthcare professionals should consider Islamic teachings in assisting and delivering care for Muslims on hemodialysis.