Assessment of Health and Illness Beliefs
Cultural beliefs are an important consideration during the assessment process. It is, therefore, imperative to consider a patient’s culture during the interview, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients from diverse cultures. Cultural health beliefs are associated with daily activities, food habits, and lifestyle, which may all contradict clinical health assessments. Different cultures have different health belief systems to explain the cause of illnesses, their prevention, and treatment. The perception and cultural relevance of health information provided affect their response and enthusiasm to use it[Yas17]. Culture affects a patient’s understanding of the assessment process and the importance of the treatment process. The influence of culture influences the physical findings of the assessment process and, consequently, the treatment process.
Health and illness beliefs may affect the assessment process based on the response of patients to their health issues. For example, the American Indians and Alaska natives may give answers about their health based on staying in harmony with nature and having a good balance of emotions, spirit, body, and mind[Yas17]. They are also likely to respond to questions about their illnesses with reference to ghosts, displeasing people, and evil spirits. In addition, they may answer questions about their symptoms and feel more open. The aspect of feelings is more enshrined in their culture. On the other hand, patients from Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico are likely to respond to questions about their health with reference to punishment by the gods for wrongdoing, jealousy, envy from people, and the cast of evil eyes. These cultural beliefs bring perception differences between the patient and the health provider.
Cultural beliefs affect patients’ perception and attitude toward health care and the ability to provide sufficient information, cope, and manage their illness. Many facets of doctor-patient communication are non-verbal, with culture playing a critical role in the interactions. Cultural beliefs and backgrounds affect both verbal and non-verbal communication, with different cultures having different ways of expressing their issues. For example, Asians believe that it is critical to maintaining harmony. They, therefore, prefer to avoid direct confrontation and conflict based on their respect for power[Yas17]. They, therefore, avoid holding open deliberations with health professionals even in areas where the communication is unclear. In addition, it is shameful to have conditions like depression, mental illness, and other behaviors that depict a lack of self-control. Patients may, therefore, hesitate to discuss such symptoms, which might influence the physical findings of the assessment process.
Cultural beliefs influence patients on what they expect to be the causative factors of illnesses and their expectations of the treatment and medication process. For example, people from Germany, Russia, France, England, and Poland believe that cleanliness, exercise, and proper nutrition lead to good health. According to their belief, home medications like Olbas and swamp root are the main way to restore their health[Yas17]. On the other hand, people from China. Korea, Japan, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and South East Asia believe that they wear amulets like jade to protect their health. In addition, traditional medications like cupping, moxibustion, acupuncture, and ginseng root restore their health. Patients may, therefore, disagree with the medication provided.
Cultural beliefs can complicate the health assessment process and, therefore, affect the findings of the assessment process. Most cultures believe that illness cure must involve healing the spirit, mind, and body. These beliefs may contradict clinical medications depending on the level of cultural assimilation by the patient. It is, therefore, paramount that medical providers understand these beliefs and come up with an acceptable assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan that takes into consideration the cultural beliefs of the patient. Since communication is the most critical process in the assessment process, understanding the culture of the patients may help medical providers better understand and undertake the process without the culture affecting the outcomes of the process.
References
Yasui, M. (2017). The Centrality of Culture in Mental Health Treatment Engagement: Intersecting Influences of Explanatory Models of Illness, Cultural Stigma, and Networks. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 607-678.
