Health Care for Patients & Families from African Cultures

Posted by Marcia Carteret, M. Ed. on Oct 21, 2010 in African Cultures, Culture-Specific Topics | 1 comment There is a growing community of immigrants and refugees in Colorado from countries in Africa, and thus a growing need for basic awareness among health  care professionals about the backgrounds of these patients and families. Healthcare for Immigrants and Refugees, another newsletter available on this website, may also prove helpful. Due to the large number of countries, cultures, and...
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Health Care for Middle Eastern Patients & Families

Posted by Marcia Carteret, M. Ed. on Oct 21, 2010 in Middle Eastern Cultures | 0 comments Culturally driven attitudes and behaviors often create communication challenges between Middle Eastern patients and Western health care professionals. Middle Easterners approach life differently in significant ways from Westerners i.e., in terms of time control, power distance, male/female roles, personal space, and privacy. Similarly, problems in providing health care also develop around family...
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Traditional Asian Health Beliefs & Healing Practices

Posted by Marcia Carteret, M. Ed. on Oct 21, 2010 in Asian Cultures | 0 comments This newsletter introduces our community of readers to some of the basic concepts behind the traditional medicines and healing practices of Asian cultures. People belonging to these Asian cultures are accustomed to relying on distinct health practices and beliefs that are significantly different from those of native born Americans and other immigrants. As patients’ health beliefs can have a...
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Cultural Values of Asian Patients and Families

Posted by Marcia Carteret, M. Ed. on Oct 21, 2010 in Asian Cultures | 2 comments Successful communication between healthcare providers and their patients from different cultural backgrounds depends on developing awareness of the normative cultural values of patients and how these differ from the cultural values of most western medical professionals. When cultural differences are poorly understood, a variety of adverse clinical outcomes may result: reduced participation...
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Folk Illnesses and Remedies in Latino Communities

Posted by Marcia Carteret, M. Ed. on Oct 21, 2010 in Culture-Specific Topics, Latino Cultures | 1 comment What is a Folk Illness? Folk illnesses are health beliefs and practices shaped by the cultural conventions of a specific group of people. Folk illnesses (sometimes also referred to as lay health beliefs) have specific causes, preventions, and cures based on wider theories of illness (e.g., humoral, Ayurvedic, biomedical), but may also include local health beliefs and values not related to the...
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