Explaining pray experiences in hospitalized patients: A phenomenological study

Pray is always a challenge, especially in health centers. Although the relationship between prayer and health is very well expressed, so far, the barriers and problems of pray have not been taken into consideration by the hospitalized patients themselves. This research aimed to explaining pray experiences in hospitalized patients.

The present study is a qualitative phenomenological study. A total of 15 patients (7 women and 8 men) admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan were selected by objective sampling method. Sampling continued until data saturation. These patients were admitted to the medical, emergency, C.C.U. and surgery departments. The data collection method was semi-structured interviews. Interviewed interviews were word by word. Data were analyzed simultaneously with sampling.

After analyzing the data, 2 themes (barriers to pray in hospitalized patients, facilitating factors for pray in hospitalized patients) and 6 categories were included which included "lack of prayer requirements", "lack of purity for pray", "unwillingness to prayer by using alternatives to ablution", "the lack of familiarity with the religious issues related to prayer in hospitalized patients", "the possibility of a better and purer relationship with God", "the spiritual effects of prayer on hospitalized patients".

Due to the lack of pray conditions in the medical centers and the importance of prayer for hospitalized patients, the necessary conditions should be provided by the hospital managers and practitioners.