Medical Treatment Medical Treatment for Cardiologyfor Cardiology

Recognizing and Recognizing and Understanding Understanding

Power and Culture Power and Culture ConsiderationsConsiderations

Poverty in AmericaPoverty in America

Many Americans living at or below poverty level cannot afford Many Americans living at or below poverty level cannot afford health insurance.health insurance.

Without public assistance, many Americans living at or below Without public assistance, many Americans living at or below poverty level tend to:poverty level tend to:

Become ill more oftenBecome ill more often Die at a younger ageDie at a younger age

Individuals with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to Individuals with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to develop heart disease. develop heart disease.

Risk factors are more prevalent in individuals with lower Risk factors are more prevalent in individuals with lower income, which could increase the chances of heart disease.income, which could increase the chances of heart disease.

Some risk factors include:Some risk factors include:

SmokingSmoking High blood pressureHigh blood pressure Elevated cholesterol Elevated cholesterol StressStress

Considerations of Considerations of Religion/Spirituality/Religion/Spirituality/

Non-Spirituality Related Non-Spirituality Related to Healthcareto Healthcare

Transplants and TransfusionsTransplants and Transfusions Most religions believe transplants, organ donations, and transfusions are the Most religions believe transplants, organ donations, and transfusions are the

patient’s choice. patient’s choice.

Some of these religions include: Some of these religions include:

African Methodist Episcopal African Methodist Episcopal Amish Amish Buddhism Buddhism ChristianityChristianity Christian ChurchChristian Church Christian ScienceChristian Science Greek OrthodoxGreek Orthodox HinduismHinduism Independent ConservativeIndependent Conservative

EvangelicalEvangelical(UC Davis Health System, 2011)(UC Davis Health System, 2011)

IslamIslam JudaismJudaism MennoniteMennonite MoravianMoravian Mormon Mormon Seventh-Day AdventistSeventh-Day Adventist QuakersQuakers Unitarian UniversalistUnitarian Universalist

Difference of OpinionDifference of Opinion

ShintosShintos believe a deceased body is believe a deceased body is impure, dangerous, and powerful; injuring impure, dangerous, and powerful; injuring a dead body is a serious crime. Receiving a dead body is a serious crime. Receiving a heart transplant is difficult for a Shinto a heart transplant is difficult for a Shinto as the Shinto faith opposes removing an as the Shinto faith opposes removing an organ. organ.

(UC Davis Health System, 2011(UC Davis Health System, 2011))

Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses oppose blood oppose blood transfusions, but support an individual’s transfusions, but support an individual’s choice to have a transplant. However, all choice to have a transplant. However, all blood must be removed from the organs blood must be removed from the organs or tissues before being transplanted. or tissues before being transplanted.

Considerations of Considerations of Diverse Ethnicity Diverse Ethnicity

and its Role in and its Role in HealthcareHealthcare

Different ethnic groups have different beliefs Different ethnic groups have different beliefs regarding modern medicine.regarding modern medicine.

It is important to be aware of these differences It is important to be aware of these differences and how they may affect medical decision-and how they may affect medical decision-making.making.

Examples of Examples of Perspectives in Perspectives in

Healthcare based Healthcare based on Identity of on Identity of

Ethnicity Ethnicity

ChineseChinese

Take medications only until symptoms are relieved.Take medications only until symptoms are relieved. If symptoms are not obvious, it is probable that If symptoms are not obvious, it is probable that

medications will not be taken.medications will not be taken. Protect the elderly from bad news, as the Chinese Protect the elderly from bad news, as the Chinese

believe discussing death or dying is bad luck. believe discussing death or dying is bad luck. Medications are thought to be aversive.Medications are thought to be aversive. Cautious about side effects; therefore, adjusting Cautious about side effects; therefore, adjusting

dosage amounts to minimize those effects. dosage amounts to minimize those effects. Believe in traditional Chinese medicine for long-term Believe in traditional Chinese medicine for long-term

treatment. treatment. (Tom, L. A. 1998)(Tom, L. A. 1998)

MuslimMuslim

Think doctors play a small role in healing Think doctors play a small role in healing as Imams (a person in an Islamic as Imams (a person in an Islamic leadership position) have a greater impact leadership position) have a greater impact in improving an individual’s health.in improving an individual’s health.

Believe once treatment becomes futile, it is Believe once treatment becomes futile, it is no longer mandatory.no longer mandatory.

Encourage a living will with “do not Encourage a living will with “do not resuscitate” orders if brain death occurs.resuscitate” orders if brain death occurs.(Mitchum, R. 2011)(Mitchum, R. 2011)

HispanicHispanic

Are concerned about drug addiction while taking Are concerned about drug addiction while taking medicines, and this can lead to reluctance in medicines, and this can lead to reluctance in taking them long term.taking them long term.

Believe when the symptoms disappear they are Believe when the symptoms disappear they are cured.cured.

Families prefer to use home remedies and may Families prefer to use home remedies and may consult a folk healer. consult a folk healer.

(Sunstrom, 2006) (Sunstrom, 2006)

VietnameseVietnamese

Doctors are greatly respected. Diagnosis Doctors are greatly respected. Diagnosis and treatment are expected at the first and treatment are expected at the first visit. visit.

Patients can be uncomfortable with Patients can be uncomfortable with diagnostic tests and invasive lab tests.diagnostic tests and invasive lab tests.

Do not trust doctors who cannot diagnosis Do not trust doctors who cannot diagnosis symptoms quickly.symptoms quickly.

Feel blood loss will make one sicker, which Feel blood loss will make one sicker, which leads to a fear of surgery. leads to a fear of surgery.

Vietnamese Vietnamese Continued….Continued…. Believe removal of organs alters the internal Believe removal of organs alters the internal

balance; therefore, this is reserved as a last balance; therefore, this is reserved as a last resort. resort.

Believe medicine doses are measured with Believe medicine doses are measured with American or European body weight in mind; American or European body weight in mind; therefore, Vietnamese individuals self-adjust therefore, Vietnamese individuals self-adjust dosages.dosages.

Believe medicine should cure the illness Believe medicine should cure the illness immediately. Injections are preferred over immediately. Injections are preferred over prescriptions. prescriptions.

(Gordon, Bernadett, Evan, Bernadett & Dang, 2006) (Gordon, Bernadett, Evan, Bernadett & Dang, 2006)

SummarySummary

These are a few examples of the differences These are a few examples of the differences between different races, religions, and between different races, religions, and ethnic groups. ethnic groups.

It is extremely important to know as many It is extremely important to know as many details as possible about the individuals details as possible about the individuals present in order to better prepare for the present in order to better prepare for the upcoming assignment. upcoming assignment.

ReferencesReferences Gordon, S., Bernadett, M., Evan, D., Bernadett, N., & Dang, Gordon, S., Bernadett, M., Evan, D., Bernadett, N., & Dang,

L. (2006). L. (2006). Vietnamese culture: Influences and implications Vietnamese culture: Influences and implications for health carefor health care. Retrieved from . Retrieved from http://www.molinahealthcare.com.http://www.molinahealthcare.com.

Mitchum, R. (2011). Mitchum, R. (2011). Finding the muslim view on medicineFinding the muslim view on medicine. . Retrieved from Retrieved from http://sciencelife.uchospitals.edu/2011/08/15. http://sciencelife.uchospitals.edu/2011/08/15.

Sunstrom, R. (2006). Sunstrom, R. (2006). medical spanish cultural education for medical spanish cultural education for healthcare workershealthcare workers. Retrieved from http://www.uwlax.edu.. Retrieved from http://www.uwlax.edu.

Tom, L. A. (1998). Tom, L. A. (1998). Health and health care for chinese-Health and health care for chinese-american eldersamerican elders. Retrieved from . Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/group/ethnoger/chinese.html. http://www.stanford.edu/group/ethnoger/chinese.html.

UC Davis Health System. (2011). Lower socioeconomic UC Davis Health System. (2011). Lower socioeconomic status linked with heart disease despite improvements in status linked with heart disease despite improvements in other risk factors. Sacramento, California: Retrieved from other risk factors. Sacramento, California: Retrieved from http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/566http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/5660.0.