Role of Islamic-Based Caring in Enhancing the Spiritual Well-Being of Critically Ill Patient: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i2.705Keywords:
critical care, ICU, islamic-based caring, spiritual well-beingAbstract
Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) frequently experience psychological stress, anxiety, and uncertainty, which can adversely affect recovery and overall quality of life. Spiritual well-being is a crucial dimension of holistic care, particularly for Muslim patients, as it promotes inner peace, resilience, and coping during critical illness. Islamic-based caring integrates religious practices, including prayer, dhikr, and Qur’an recitation, into nursing interventions to address patients’ spiritual needs. This narrative review aimed to examine the role of Islamic-based caring in enhancing spiritual well-being among critically ill patients, focusing on its psychological, physiological, and spiritual outcomes, and the contributions of nurses, families, and healthcare institutions in facilitating effective spiritual care. A literature search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SINTA using keywords such as “Islamic-based caring,” “Qur’an recitation,” “critical care,” and “spiritual well-being.” Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed studies on adult ICU or critically ill patients published between 2015 and 2025, in English or Indonesian, and focusing on Islamic spiritual interventions. Excluded were pediatric populations and non-Islamic interventions. After screening 134 articles, 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria were finally analyzed and synthesized narratively. Islamic-based interventions, including Qur’an recitation, audio therapy, prayer facilitation, dhikr, and mindfulness programs, consistently reduced anxiety, depression, and pain while enhancing emotional stability and spiritual well-being. Several studies reported shorter ICU or hospital stays. Nurses were identified as primary facilitators, families provided emotional and spiritual support, and institutional policies and facilities influenced implementation. Islamic-based caring is a safe, cost-effective, and holistic approach that improves psychological, physiological, and spiritual outcomes in critically ill patients. Effective integration requires multi-level collaboration, formal training, supportive policies, and family involvement, reinforcing its potential as a standard component of critical care practice.
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