Understanding Your Patient's Point of View

Patients and providers may have very different interpretations and expectations regarding the patient's illness and the health care he or she should receive. This is influenced by: cultural values and beliefs, sociopolitical histories, perceptions of power between the patient and provider, expectation of health care.

Cultural Values and Beliefs

• Many Asians perceive life in fatalistic terms (i.e., largely determined by external forces, God, or fate) and may feel less able to do something about his/her illness.
• The importance of the extended family, emphasized in Asian culture, often results in the extended family being highly involved in the client's care and medical decision-making.
• Diet choices may be strongly based in beliefs about what is healthy. This could result in a refusal to eat certain foods considered to be toxic, or having certain properties.
• Beliefs about health and illness strongly influence behavior. Clients may avoid the wind, be reluctant to go out after surgery, or refuse to have blood drawn.
• Beliefs in supernatural spirits might result in a reliance on religion or spiritual healing rituals in addition to Western medicine.
• Cultural values and beliefs may dictate what is appropriate to reveal or discuss. Cultural norms may also dictate how symptoms are manifested (i.e., how patients express distress).

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