The Patient as an Individual
@@Patients as Individuals@@
- Patient well-being affected by attitude, expressed concern, and technical \n skills
- “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
- Individuals are complex
- Cultural influences, personal experiences, and basic human needs all play role
@@Philosophy of Individual Worth@@
- Every human being has worth
- Give same level of care regardless of patients’ circumstances
- Some patients present unique challenges
- More difficult than others
- Experiencing pain and anxiety
- Empathy provides foundation for understanding others
@@Dealing with Prejudice@@
- Prejudice
- Negative feelings about people due to race, cultural background, appearance, \n etc.
- Also called “bias”
- Prevents seeing people as unique individuals
- Must identify own prejudices to deal with them
- Many incorporated into our belief systems
- Taken for granted
@@Implicit Bias@@
- Bias that is outside consciousness
- Difficult to identify and overcome
- Studies reveal extensive implicit bias in health care
- Affects patient outcomes
@@Overcoming Bias@@
- Examine responses to others
- Imagine individual as opposite of stereotype
- Try to see person as an individual
- Practice empathy
- Associate with people of different groups
- Reframe interactions with patients to ones between equals
- Not necessary to agree with all beliefs of others
- Especially if harmful to their health
@@Meaning of Culture@@
- Values and beliefs
- Social organization
- Family structure
- Language
- Religion
- Everyday activities
- Economic status
- Sexual orientation
@@Purpose of Culture@@
- Provides guidelines for behavior
- Gives life predictability
- Provides means for people to live together in relative harmony
@@Dominant Culture@@
- Generally accepted foundational beliefs and behavior of society or country
- Examples from U.S. culture:
- Importance of efficiency and punctuality
- Having a firm handshake
@@Individuals and Culture@@
- U.S. population increasingly diverse
- Some groups no longer considered to be minorities
- Different levels of integration into maintain U.S. culture
- Recognize differences but do not make assumptions
@@Dealing with Cultural Differences@@
- Appreciate different approaches to life
- Learn about other cultures
- Especially those of future patients in your area
- Avoid assuming patients will always understand you
- Remember that members of cultural groups may or may not practice certain \n customs
- Be sensitive to possible cultural differences related to patient needs
- Ask appropriate questions to learn about patients
- Recognize there are many cultural sub-groups
@@Examples of Cultural Differences@@
- Personal space
- Comfortable distance for conversation
- About 18 to 24 inches in U.S.
- About 18 to 24 inches in U.S.
- Use of touch
- Varies greatly
- Gender issues
@@Traditional Western Medicine@@
- Practiced by most U.S. physicians
- Focuses on physical aspects of body
- Employs scientific methods
- Treatment must be proven safe and effective
- Illness attributed to factors that can be measured and explained
@@Cultural Variations Definitions of Health@@
- Absence of disease
- Balance of body energy
- Harmony with nature
- Integration of body, mind, and spirit
@@Cultural Variations Sources of Good Health@@
- Nutritious food, good hygiene
- Gift from ancestors
- Will of God
- Reward from God
- Good luck
@@Cultural Variations Causes of Illness@@
- Imbalance of body energy
- Demons and spirits
- Punishment for sins
- Microbes and resulting infection
- Will of God
@@Cultural Variations Treatment Methods@@
- Acupuncture
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Prayer
- Surgery
- Lifestyle changes
- Rituals and ceremonies
@@Religion and Health@@
- Religious and spiritual beliefs influence many health care practices
- Shamans
- Faith healing and prayer
- Illness as will of God or punishment for sins
- Prayer
- Evil eye
@@Harmony and Health@@
- Balance of body, mind, and spirit
- Growing interest in U.S.
- Basic belief of many cultures
- Chinese concept of yin and yang
- Body humor theory
- Traditional Hispanic belief
- Four fluids control body
- Hot and cold disorders and treatments