Patients’ Religious Beliefs in Cardiac Pain Situations: A Qualitative Research

Introduction: Pain is a mysterious and sophisticated phenomenon, which is affected by several factors. One of the factors effective on pain is individuals’ cultural background. In this vast domain, religion plays a key role. The role of religious beliefs, as the most powerful element in increase of individuals’ tolerance of cardiac pain, is very crucial. As religious beliefs play an important role in pain relief among cardiac patients, investigation of clients’ live experiences concerning their religious beliefs is essential. Method: This was a descriptive phenomenological study in which the participants, were selected through purposive sampling (n = ۱۲), comprised the patients hospitalized in CCU and cardiology wards of Nour and Chamran hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. Unstructured interviews were adopted to collect the data and Colaizze method was used to analyze and extract the concepts. Results: The obtained findings yielded three themes including fate, hope, and religious rites. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that the patients considered cardiac pain as the God’s test and fate because of its very acute and intolerable pain, which ends to death. Some of them also rely on current medications and medical treatments, carried out by nurses and physicians, when they are in cardiac pain. Some others just believe in God’s will and power and they achieve peace, and consequently, physical comfort through trusting the God. They also considered religious rites as praying, worshiping God and Imams of Islam, and avowing very effective on their pain relief while some felt sinful and considered repentance. Based on this issue, nurses can help patients relieve their pain through a better recognition and acceptance of their religious beliefs.

کلیدواژه ها:

qualitative research ، Religious beliefs ، Cardiac pain