Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science Volume 5, Issue 6, Page No: 137-143 Copyright CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Available Online at: www.jrmds.in eISSN No. 2347-2367: pISSN No. 2347-2545 Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science | Vol. 5 | Issue 6 | December 2017 137 Barriers and facilitators of spiritual therapy in cancer patients in Iran: A qualitative study Maryam Montazeri 1 , Saeid Nazari-Tavakkoli 2 , Mahmood Abbasi 3 , Mehrzad Kiani 4 , Bagher Ghobary Bonab 5 , Fariba Borhani 6 * 1 PhD student of Medical Ethics, Department of Medical Ethics, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2 Associate Professor, Department of Jurisprudence & the Essentials of the Islamic Law, Faculty of Theology and Islamic studies, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran 3 Hed of Medical Ethics and Law Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 4 Fellowship in Medical Ethics, Forensic Medicine Specialist, Associate Professor, Head of Medical Ethics Department, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 5 College of Psychology and Education Kardan Alley, Ale- Ahmad Ave, Tehran, Iran 6 Associate professor, Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Medical Surgical Department of Nursing and Midwifery School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran DOI: 10.24896/jrmds.20175624 ABSTRACT : As a life-threatening disease, cancer requires the use of spiritual therapy. However, spiritual therapy is not sufficiently utilized for cancer patients in Iran. The present study was therefore conducted with the aim to identify barriers to and facilitators of spiritual therapy in Iran. The present qualitative study enrolled 25 participants using Granheim-Lundman's content analysis approach. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling continued until saturation of data occurred. Analysis of data led to the emergence of disharmony in treatment conditions (disharmony in values, reductionism in treatment, marginalization of spiritual care, absence of a strategic spiritual therapy plan, routine base treatment, routine- based treatment as barriers to spiritual therapy, personal and value capitals, the therapist's value and personal capitals, the patient's value and personal capitals and the patient's family attributes as facilitators of spiritual therapy. Results revealed several barriers to implementation of spiritual therapy in Iran, which have to be dealt with and eliminated. The health systems should avoid reductionist and routine-orientated treatment. Besides elimination of these barriers, efforts should be made to strengthen facilitators (personal and value capitals of the therapist and the patient), so that spiritual therapy can be further used in the treatment of cancer patients. Keywords: Cancer, Spiritual Therapy, Qualitative Study, Palliative Care HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Maryam Montazeri, Saeid Nazari-Tavakkoli, Mahmood Abbasi, Mehrzad Kiani, Bagher Ghobary Bonab, Fariba Borhani, Barriers and facilitators of spiritual therapy in cancer patients in Iran: A qualitative study, J Res Med Dent Sci, 2017, 5 (6):137-143, DOI: 10.24896/jrmds.20175624 Corresponding author: Fariba Borhani e-mail faribaborhani@msn.com Received: 14/10/2017 Accepted: 20/11/2017 INTRODUCTION Cancer is a major health problem throughout the world [1, 2], and its treatment requires invasive techniques such as surgery, radiation-therapy, and chemotherapy [3]. Because of its chronic and life- threatening nature, cancer patients have to undergo long-term treatments with chemical medications [4]. Cancer does not affect just the patient's body, but causes other problems including impaired family relationships, mood