“My Body Is Dirty, I Cannot Pray”: An Exploration of Muslim Cancer Patients’ Worship During Hospital Treatment, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Background: Spiritual well-being is crucial for improving the quality of life of patients with cancer. Spirituality is needed in the treatment and rehabilitation process and is still a challenge for health workers, particularly nurses. Access to worship, as a form of spiritual need, is an important aspect to consider during treatment. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to explore how Muslim cancer experiences worship during hospitalization in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Fifteen participants, including patients, family caregiver, and nurses, were selected using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 participants who met the inclusion criteria and continued until no new themes emerged. Data collection took place in the chemotherapy unit and inpatient unit of Bantul Regional General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The data were then analyzed using reflextive thematic analysis with the help of ATLAS. ti 9. Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) a strong belief that worshipping God can alleviate pain, (2) physical weakness as a barrier to worship, and (3) a lack of supporting facilities for worship during treatment. Although participants felt that worship helped them cope and find comfort, their physical condition and the lack of support often made it difficult to practice consistently. Conclusions: Muslim cancer patients continue to face challenges in practicing worship during hospitalization. Providing culturally sensitive spiritual care is essential, and nurses have a key role in supporting patients to adapt their worship practices.