A Focus on Chinese Health Choices Essay

Culture is one of the socio-medical factors that medical practitioners ought to consider when dealing with patients and professional caregivers (Giskin & Walsh, 2001). This is because religious values and traditions have been linked to disease acquisition and management as well as how health matters are handled in different parts of the world. In addition, culture determines how people choose and providers (Basavanthappa, 2004).

In the end, such considerations affect how nurses and other medical practitioners deal with different patients and health care professionals. In particular, the autonomy of a persons culture such as the Chinese must be respected. Unsurprisingly, it is widely recognized that individuals have independent minds and can govern their actions (Giskin & Walsh, 2001). In many different ways, cultural elements of the Chinese influence how they think and respond to issues such as corrective health measures (Giskin & Walsh, 2001). Complex traditional values and norms including folklore medicine and belief systems play vital roles in the ways the Chinese perceive health and medical intervention practices (Basavanthappa, 2004).

To understand how cultural factors influence the manner in which nurses treat patients and how professionals should conduct their business in hospitals, it is imperative to consider the various tenets of culture in context.

Interview Questionnaire
This questionnaire is intended to help in the collection of information regarding various health care choices and cultural perceptions among the Chinese.

General Information
Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________________

Country of Birth _____________________________________________________________

Profession ________________________________________________________

Get your 100% original paper on any topic done
in as little as 3 hours
Native Language _____________ Sub-culture _____________________

Sex;

Female
Male
Background
Medical Position______________________
Knowledge and Importance of Culture
In your own understanding, what is culture? __________________________________________________________________
How important are health facilities to your family?
Very important
Partially important
Not important
a) Is the title with which youre addressed important to you?
Yes
No
Please elaborate/explain, based on your answers in 2 (a) above ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are some of the causes of disability according to your native traditions (please list them)? _________________, ___________________, ________________
How is in your culture____________________
What are some of the causes of disability according to your native traditions (please list them)? _________________, ___________________, ________________
Do you have any particular rituals observed in your family? If yes, what are they (please list them)? ___________________,_________________________, ______________________
What is the most celebrated holiday in your culture? ___________________
Does you culture respect confidentiality in matters of health?
Yes
No
What is one of the of your culture? ____________________
What is considered the most disrespectful habit in your culture? ___________________________
Could you, please, list the considered causes of mental disorders in your culture? ________________, ___________________, _________________________________
Are there about seeking professional medical help in your culture? (Pleases list them)__________________, ______________________, __________________
Does your culture take the issue of fulfilling a promise and integrity seriously?
Yes
No
Have you ever felt discriminated against in a health care facility based on your culture?
Yes
No
What is the most accepted/common mode of communication in your culture?
Directly
More directly
Less directly
How would you describe the nature of respect accorded to the elderly in your culture?
Low
Partial
Very important
Would comfortably initiate conversations in a place, such as hospitals, that you have never visited before?
Yes
No
Have often do you seek the help of traditional healers when sick?
Often
All times
Not at all
How do you regard direct eye contact in your culture?
Normal
A sign of trust
Intimidating
How important is a religion to your family?
Very important
Important
Partially important
Not important
Thank you for your time.

Lesson Learnt
Based upon the interview questions and the responses of the professional interviewed, a number of lessons can be drawn. One, the respect for persons in any clinical situation relates to general life aspects. Just like many other cultures, dealing with a Chinese requires an observation of basic universal principles of treating individuals with dignity.

Two, the Chinese are heterogeneous. Different groups portray diverse linguistic, social, economic and political characteristics. Three, their cultural beliefs have notions on health, illness and disease acquisition processes. For instance, most Chinese perceive disability as caused by some mysterious circumstances. Those who suffer disability experience guilt linked to the notion that some curse or ancestral spirit may be the reason for their misfortunes. It seems, also, the Chinese are more comfortable with people who get injuries that lead to limiting physicality than those who suffer congenital or mental disorders (Basavanthappa, 2004). This reality implies that many Chinese still seek traditional healers to mitigate the effects of such conditions.

Three, communication barriers and the choice of health care providers require scrutiny. There are various cultural patterns that influence the decisions for the type of health care systems and measures that a Chinese may take. In retrospect, these factors should be considered by health practitioners when dealing with Chinese patients and professional caregivers (Basavanthappa, 2004). In many cases, the Chinese are shy especially when they are in unusual contexts. In this regard, a nurse dealing with a Chinese may consider using gentle and friendly greeting tones. Because of the level of respect that the Chinese accord the elderly, medical practitioners ought to address them as Mr. or Mrs. When addressed this way, they are likely to feel comfortable and may choose to seek health services in the same facility. Moreover, most Chinese consider addressing the elderly by their first name disrespectful (Basavanthappa, 2004).