Jurnal NERS
Vol. 21 No. 3 (2026): VOLUME 21 ISSUE 3 (AUGUST 2026)

Why has God forsaken me? Understanding the spiritual struggles of older adults with tuberculosis: A descriptive phenomenological study

Saidah Rauf (Nursing Department, Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Maluku, Ambon, Indonesia
Maluku Regional Executive Board of the Indonesian Gerontology Association, Ambon, Indonesia.)

Santi Aprilian Lestaluhu (Maluku Regional Executive Board of the Indonesian Gerontology Association, Ambon, Indonesia)
Sri Eny Setyowati (Nutrition Department, Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Maluku, Ambon, Indonesia)
Bustanul Arifin (Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Unit of Global Health, Department of Health Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Aug 2026

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health burden, with an estimated 10.7 million cases worldwide in 2024 and approximately 1.23 million deaths attributed to it. Older adult patients often experience spiritual distress that may influence their health behavior and treatment adherence. This study aimed to explore the lived spiritual experiences of older adults diagnosed with TB in the Maluku region of Indonesia. Methods: This qualitative study employed a Husserlian descriptive phenomenological approach involving 12 older adults diagnosed with TB. The study was conducted in primary healthcare facilities in Ambon City and Southeast Maluku Regency, two areas with a high number of reported TB cases in Maluku Province. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Results: Four main themes emerged: 1) initial emotional responses to a TB diagnosis, 2) spiritual roles in the healing process, 3) prayers and worship in TB treatment, and 4) spiritual values for resilience. Conclusions: These findings underscore the significance of integrating culturally sensitive spiritual support into TB care for older adults. Future studies should examine changes in spiritual coping and resilience across treatments and evaluate culturally appropriate spiritual care interventions in diverse religious groups.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JNERS

Publisher

Subject

Nursing

Description

The scope of this journal includes studies that intend to examine and understand nursing health care interventions and health policies which utilize advanced nursing research. The journal also committed to improve the high quality research by publishing analytic techniques, measures, and research ...