Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41566702›Full record

ArticlePalliative medicine2026

Mapping potential cultural and religious tensions in end-of-life care for Muslim patients: A scoping review.

George Muishout, Lenneke Post, Salima El Ayachi, Johannes C F Ket, Lia van Zuylen

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Palliative medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

George MuishoutDepartment of Spiritual Care, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-9230-6052
Lenneke PostDepartment of Spiritual Care, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-2534-4788
Salima El AyachiDepartment of Spiritual Care, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0009-4880-9988
Johannes C F KetMedical Library, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Lia van ZuylenCancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMuslims constitute the largest religious minority in Euro-American countries. Interactions between Muslim patients and healthcare providers in end-of-life care may give rise to religio-cultural ethical dilemmas, resulting in tensions. Understanding these tensions may support care providers in navigating the critical transition from life to death within non-Muslim majority contexts.

aimTo thematically map ethical tensions arising from religio-cultural dilemmas in end-of-life care for Muslim patients, and to equip healthcare professionals in Euro-American contexts with the insights needed to address them.

designA scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature search was performed in Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, and APA PsycInfo, from inception to 7 November 2024, in collaboration with a medical information specialist. Empirical studies addressing religio-cultural ethical dilemmas and tensions in end-of-life care for Muslims were included. ANALYSIS: Ethical tensions were examined using a structured framework integrating theological perspectives with empirical findings.

resultsOf 9237 records screened, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) end-of-life communication, (2) spiritualizing pain, and (3) treatment withholding/withdrawal. Tensions were most pronounced when divergent moral frameworks prioritized conflicting principles.

conclusionsEthical tensions in end-of-life care for Muslim patients in Euro-American healthcare settings reflect diverse, context-dependent interpretations of Islamic principles. Addressing these tensions requires early, culturally sensitive engagement and the development of a shared ethical framework in close collaboration with healthcare providers, Muslim chaplains, mosques, imams, and umbrella organizations.

Indexed as

IslamReligion and MedicineTerminal CareEthical DilemmasHumanscultural dilemmasend-of-life-careethical dilemmasMuslim patientsreligious dilemmas

Identifiers

PMID41566702
PMCPMC13062463

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