Health Assessment paper
You are admitting a 19-year old female college student to the hospital for fevers. Using the patient information provided, choose a culture unfamiliar to you and describe what would be important to remember while you interview this patient. Discuss the health care support systems available in your community for someone of this culture. If no support systems are available in your community, identify a national resource.
THE DISCUSSION
Mrs.X, a 19-year-old female is a Native-American recently admitted due to recurrent episodes of fever. She has been experiencing high fevers of between 39-40 degree Celsius with alternating bouts of headache. The high temperatures have lasted for three weeks with no medical intervention; however, she has been on herbal medicine and body exposure method. She reports of feelings of generalized body weakness, diaphoresis, and pain on her muscle joints. Mrs.X is a robust Christian follower who believes that only God can cure her. Furthermore, she states that she preferred herbal medicine since it was natural and created by God. After a thorough history taking, it was established that she had poor health-seeking behavior.
Religious practices significantly affect an individual’s health-seeking behavior. Mrs.X stayed for more extended periods without seeking any medical intervention since her church discouraged on hospital interventions. According to King (2013), 80% of influential religious followers believe that their faith in God could cure any illness with no medical treatment. He further stated that the health-seeking behaviors of such individual was deplorable and needed health education on its importance.
During the interview process with Mrs.X, it is essential to consider and respect her own culture with no prejudice or biases. Understanding of her lifestyle will provide a basis for trust, hence creating an opportunity for education on the available treatment options. It is very crucial to consider how the individual would like to receive her care putting in mind that she had been on herbal medicine (Gone, 2011). After a thorough health education on the procedure of diagnosis on her illness, the patient should be able to understand and make a decision on the best treatment option. Negotiation on the available treatment options is essential when the patient gets difficulty in making the best option.
Bright (2012) describes the clinical decision support system as one of the most crucial factors in health promotion among individuals like Mrs.X. It comprises of medical practitioners who guide the patient on decision making regarding their diagnosis. Patient access to health care increases and improves through this model due to increased understanding of the illness. The Total Cost of Care model is a reliable support system that enhances increased accessibility of health services. Cost reduction in the treatment option has promoted continued patient care and overall quality outcome.
Religious customs and beliefs can hinder the health outcomes of an individual; hence health education should be done among the community on good health-seeking behaviors. However, it is essential to respect the community’s practices and beliefs to avoid conflicts that may arise due to feelings of discriminations.
References;
Bright, T. J., Wong, A., Dhurjati, R., Bristow, E., Bastian, L., Coeytaux, R. R., … & Wing, L. (2012). Effect of clinical decision-support systems: a systematic review. Annals of internal medicine, 157(1), 29-43.
Gone, J. P. (2011). The red road to wellness: Cultural reclamation in a Native First Nations community treatment center. American Journal of Community Psychology, 47(1-2), 187-202.
King, D. E., & Koenig, H. G. (2013). Faith, spirituality, and medicine: Toward the making of the healing practitioner. Routledge.
