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New Publication Bridges Cultural Gap in Health Care
By
Michael A. Piekarz
Staff Writer
The
vibrant mix of humanity and culture, which is the foundation of America,
can often create problems when health care providers ignore the influential
role of culture and religion that comes into play when evaluating
a senior’s health care decisions.
In order to help health care providers better meet the cultural needs of their
senior patients, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has created a three volume
book series titled “Doorway Thoughts: Cross-Cultural Health Care for Older
Adults.”
The first two volumes of the series provide clinicians with information to assist
them in caring for older adults from one or more minority ethnic groups. The
third volume addresses the role of religion in health decision-making by American
seniors.
According to Sharon Brangman, M.D., AGS member and editorial board member for
the “Doorway Thoughts” series, caring for older adults goes beyond
knowing their medical history.
“Culture and religion can play a significant role in a person’s perception
of health and disease, which is especially true for older adults,” said
Dr. Brangman. “Therefore, it’s important for health care providers
to have an understanding of an older person’s culture or religion to better
understand why they make certain health-related decisions.”
The books were created as a teaching tool focusing on anyone who interacts with
senior patients in order to create “culturally competent care.” While
the intended audience includes physicians, nurses, medical students, interns
and residents, the three volume set is recommended for use in any setting where
senior health decisions are a consideration.
“This ‘Doorway Thoughts’ series is an intersection of race,
culture and aging information for health care providers to better serve the health
needs of their patients,” explained Dr. Brangman. “People often overestimate
their ability to properly manage the health care issues of patients from different
cultures and religions, and that may lead to unnecessary problems when you’re
doing your best to care for a patient.”
According to Dr. Brangman, cultural differences that health care providers need
to consider range from practical medical issues to matters of individual dignity
and respect.
One example cited by Brangman was an awareness of the proper way to address elderly
patients. It may come across as disrespectful to address an elderly person by
their first name. Another example is to be aware of the importance of home remedies
in some cultures.
“Many older African-Americans, Asians, American Indian and Asian Indians
use home remedies to treat various conditions such as colds, high blood pressure
and seizures, and they may refuse or be reluctant to use prescription medicines,” said
Dr. Brangman.
“Health care professionals must be educated about the use of home remedies
in these populations so they can ask about them and make sure they don’t
conflict with therapies they may prescribe. Many patients are embarrassed or
otherwise reluctant to tell their doctor that they use home remedies, so often
the health provider has to know to bring up the subject.”
Through the publication of the three volume set, AGS hopes that it has given
health care providers a better understanding of their patient’s background
in order to establish important long-term relationships with the patient and
the family members who often help care for them.
This page and its contents ©2008
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
