Question

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.

Answer 1

A 19 year old female came withe complaint of fever. Physician ordered to admit her. While taking the history and assessments I came to know that this girl is from Muslim community. There is a need of cultural assessment.

Cultural assessment is to determine how embedded the patient is in her traditional culture.

Data obtained from a cultural assessment will help the patient and nurse to formulate a mutually acceptable, culturally responsive treatment plan. The basic premise of the cultural assessment is that patients have a right to their cultural beliefs, values, and practices, and that these factors should be understood, respected, and considered when giving culturally competent care. The first step in cultural assessment is to learn about the meaning of the illness of the patient in terms of the patient’s unique culture.

Assesssment should include

DIET :Traditional dietary habits are often maintained for many generations. Traditional dietary habits should be acknowledged, respected, and incorporated into patient teaching plans.

FAMILY: The cultural values of the individual, family, and relatives all have an impact on the assessment of patients’ needs, as well as on the delivery of medical care.

DRESS: the dress of Muslim women represents their religious beliefs

PRIVACY Female patients may require a female physician, but always ask the patient .

PRAYER TIME:

• Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca (dawn, mid-day, midafternoon, sunset, night)

• Days of observance occur throughout the Muslim lunar calendar

• Wash face, hands, and feet before prayer

ANY TRADITIONAL MEDICINES OR REMEDIES: It is essential that all healthcare providers questions patients about what herbs or supplements they are ingesting, as well as any other nontraditional healthcare methods they are trying. Practitioners and patients who follow Islam may feel more comfortable using these supplements and remedies together with modern medicine and in conjunction with Western medical care. Healthcare practitioners should also remember that these remedies and herbs may be contraindicated or even dangerous when taken with specific prescribed modern medications.

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