Question

- Describe the health challenges of American Indian and Alaskan Native people in the United States, as well as their beliefs about causes of illness and healing practices.
- Are there cultural steps that can help prevent their illnesses? How would you use a multicultural evaluation to assess their medical situation?

Answer 1

Medicine Ways: Traditional Healers andHealing

Traditional healing ceremonies promote wellness by reflecting Native conceptions of Spirit, Creator, and the Universe. They can include prayer, chants, drumming, songs, stories, and the use of a variety of sacred objects.A blending of elements of Alaska Native cultural practice along with Native American tribal practices is used by tribal doctors and traditional ...Many American Indians and Alaska Natives see their healers for spiritual reasons, such as to seek guidance, truth, balance, reassurance, and spiritual well-being. They may still use mainstream medicine to deal with “white man's illness.” However, there is a belief that the spirit cannot be separated from healing. As the original inhabitants of the lands that became the United States, mental ... American Indian and Alaska Native communities have a unique ... liefs about healing, health, and illness. American Indians and Alaska Natives born today have a life expectancy that is 5.5 years ... ALL CAUSES, 999.1, 747.0, 1.3 ... U.S. All Races columns present data for a one-year period

Displays of cultural sensitivity by healthcare providers result in their patients having feelings of comfort with and trust of theirproviders, both of which enhance patients' satisfaction with care...and sense of interpersonal control in the healthcareprocess."it enables patients "to feel comfortable with, ...When providing care for someone of the Native American culture, the care provider needs to remember to: Minimize use of eye contact.

Cultural sensitivity is critical in the process of planning for and implementing evaluation andassessment. ... Sensitivity involves awareness of and responsiveness to the family's culture in terms of their values and traditions as well as their language and communication mode and style.In a brief cultural assessment, you should ask about ethnic background, religious preference, family patterns, food preferences, eating patterns, and health practices. Before theassessment, know the key topics to address and know how to address them without offending the patient and family. The basic premise of the cultural assessmentis that patients have a right to their culturalbeliefs, values, and practices, and that these factors should be understood, respected, and considered when giving culturally competent care. ... Table 15 shows questions to ask during a cultural assessment.Some of the components of a cultural assessment involve biocultural variations of the disease, both verbal and non-verbal communication, cultural affiliations, sanctions and restrictions, developmental considerations, economics, educational background, health-related beliefs and practices, social networks, nutrition. Comprehensive Cultural Assessment ComponentThe key components of conducting a comprehensive cultural assessment include communication, time, space, social organization, environmental control, and biological variation. Culturallycompetent care provides patients with care that fits their specific needs.