Unit 4: Exploration of Healthcare Careers | Short Answer Questions

How are Tay Sachs, Keloids, Lactase Deficiency and Sickle Cell Anemia, important to HCPs?

*Tay Sachs, Keloids, Lactase Deficiency, and Sickle Cell Anemia are common hereditary diseases that typically affect certain cultures more than others.* ( Tay Sach disease is more common in European Jewish Groups. Keloids are more common in darker skinned groups. Lactase Deficiency is more common in Hispanic women and people of African, Chinese and Thai descent. Lastly, Sickle Cell Anemia is more common in African, Latin and Native American, Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean and Caribbean Hispanics populations. *Therefore, Healthcare professionals should be aware of these diseases when diagnosing a patient.*

Give four examples of traditional therapies classified as folk medicine.

1. *Cutaneous stimulation*: stimulate skin through massage, vibrations, hot/cold to decrease pain. 2. *Acupuncture*: needles stuck in specific parts of the body to treat pain/disease. 3. *Acupressure*: deep pressure massage at specific points. 4. *Therapeutic touch*: healer uses touch to transfer energy to patient to promote healing process

Identify several things that all HCPs need to keep in mind when dealing with patients from a different culture.

1. Language 2. Religious Beliefs 3. Cultural Beliefs 4. Food/nutritional 5. Needs 6. Family organization 7. Education 8. Healthcare Beliefs

How should a healthcare professional react when a patient exhibits what seems to be irrational concerns?

A healthcare professional should remain calm, patient, and open minded when a patient exhibits what seems to be irrational concerns in order to reduce the patient's stress and anxiety.

Why might a patient accustomed to folk healers consider modern health care providers incompetent?

A patient accustomed to folk healers consider modern health care providers as incompetent because they view the provider asking too many questions as incompetent and deem additional tests as unnecessary. Some patients prefer to refer to a folk healer because they typically speak the patients language, are viewed as more accessible, and are open to patients cultural/personal needs. Additionally, Healthcare provider's knowledge is more based on science. However, a healer's knowledge is based on revelation/culture, and some cultures are used to them, most grew up using a healer.

What are some of the reasons a person may prefer to use a health care provider outside the modern health care system?

A person may prefer to use a health care provider outside of the modern health care system for spiritual/religious reasons, cultural reasons, personal values/beliefs, poverty, lack of insurance, inability to seek modern medicine, technology, language barrier, and availability.

Gender roles:

Certain genders in a family or culture may be more dominant than others. Therefore, when a patient with the dominant gender is sick or injured, it may cause more alarm or mental stress to their family.

How might religion affect a person's health and health care?

Certain religions may prohibit certain medical treatments or procedures. This can affect the person's health because they may refuse a live-saving treatment due to their religion. Note- the patient always has the right to autonomy.

In addition to cultural influences, what other factors play a significant role in shaping a person's view of health care?

In addition to cultural influences, personal beliefs, physical/psychological differences, religion, financial differences, lack of knowledge, bad experiences(trauma), education, life experience can all change a person's view of health care.

Why is it bad for HCP's to be ethnocentric?

It's bad for healthcare professionals to be ethnocentric because it leads to prejudice and stereotypes. Prejudice against certain groups leads to/results from stereotypes. Stereotypes are mistaken perceptions typically rooted in strong feelings and lack of knowledge.

How might lack of affordable and adequate housing affect a person's health?

Lack of affordable and adequate housing may lead to spread of disease, unsanitary conditions, mental stress, crowded living conditions, and alienation.

What is "cultural competence"?

MA: Cultural Competence is the ability to understand and accept the beliefs/values of many different cultural groups. AM: *Cultural Competence is being open minded and understanding of cultural differences. Cultural Competence is the ability of providers and organizations to effectively deliver health care services that meet the patients social, cultural, and linguistic needs.*

Food and nutrition:

Many cultures have preferences in staple foods, while other cultures have preferences in preparation of food. Therefore, some cultures/religions may not be able to eat certain ingredients or when they are prepared together.

Explain how natural therapies, alternative medicine and complementary medicine may play a role in traditional medicines.

Natural therapies, alternative medicine and complementary medicine may play a role in traditional medicines because they use more holistic forms of medicine to treat a patient, much like folk medicine.

How are racial groups typically classified in the U.S.?

Racial groups are typically classified by skin color, physical characteristics, and ethnicity.

What potential impact could socioeconomic factors, age, and religion have on a person's health or interaction with healthcare professional?

Socioeconomic: *Typically the upper and middle classes have better access to healthcare providers.(Live longer-less disease) However, the lower class may not have very good access to good healthcare providers, insurance, etc.*(more disease, crime rate, mental illness). Age: *There are many different needs at different stages of life including their abilities to communicate.* Religion: *Some religions may influence what treatments, procedures, and healthcare professionals a patient can have. Therefore, religion should be kept in mind whenever a healthcare professional is treating a patient.*

Pain management:

Some cultures believe that pain is a sign of weakness. Therefore, they may not tell the healthcare professional of any pain or discomfort, making diagnosis and treatment of the patient more difficult. The healthcare professional should assess the patient's facial responses to injury, and should look for swelling, bruises, and test results before diagnosing a patient.

Time orientation:

Some cultures perceive time differently. Some cultures value punctuality, however others are present/past orientation. This may make it difficult to plan for long term care. Therefore, Health care professionals must take the time to communicate with seriousness.

Religion:

Some religions may influence what treatments, procedures, and healthcare professionals a patient can have. Therefore, religion should be kept in mind whenever a healthcare professional is treating a patient.

What are stereotypes, and how might they interfere with good patient care?

Stereotypes are mistaken perceptions typically rooted in strong feelings and lack of knowledge. Stereotypes might interfere with good patient care because it may cause friction between the patient and the health care provider.

What is the difference between a dominant and a minority group?

The dominant group tends to influence or dominate society's cultural beliefs the most. However the minority group completely differs from the dominant group's cultural beliefs.

Age

There are many different needs/abilities at different stages of life including their abilities to communicate.

Socioeconomic factors:

Typically the upper and middle classes have better access to healthcare providers. However, the lower class may not have very good access to good healthcare providers, insurance, etc.

Why is it important that health care providers not judge others based on their own cultural norms?

Unethical. Judging others based on one's own cultural norms often leads to stereotypes, which can interfere with proper health care. Differences amongst people should be appreciated and respected.

How are cultural assimilation (acculturation) related to "culture shock"?

When a person tries to assimilate into society, it may lead to physiological stress and anxiety. It is important to keep in mind that a person from a minority group has many different beliefs and values from the minority group, making it very difficult for them to assimilate dominant values into their values.