Asian-Indians are “among the fastest-growing minorities in the United States.” (Gupta p.13) As a health care worker, providing the best patient care can only be done by first understanding and respecting our patient’s cultures and beliefs. Being knowledgeable about Asian-Indians views on healthcare, their diet, and health habits could help create a great relationship between doctor and patient. As healthcare is more accessible for the upper class in India, the majority of the population in India resort to natural remedies. Moreover, Asian-Indians tend to self-treat their illnesses and obtain “advice of their friends and family before seeking medical help.” (Gupta p.16) Often times, when seeking medical care, health care diagnoses are
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This is due to the fact that “hierarchy plays an important role within families.” (Jacobson) According to the article Care Seeking For Illness in Young Infants in an Urban Slum in India, women must not go to the doctor “unaccompanied” and their husband's permission and support must be granted before even taking their ill child to the doctor. (de Zoysa et al. p. 2107) Doctor Gupta, a board certified neurodevelopmental pediatrician, recommends the importance of healthcare providers to assure their Asian-Indian patients, especially women, “that the preventive examinations will be conducted sensitively so that not to offend their sense of modesty.” (Gupta p.16) Moreover, Doctor Gupta explains that a “male physician may have to examine a female patient with clothes on.” (Gupta …show more content…
It is of most importance that their dietary preferences are kept in mind when prescribing certain medications that could be derived from animal parts. Due to their dietary needs, many Asian-Indians would need reassurance that in the case of a hospital stay vegetarian food would be available for them. Asian-Indians believe that “diet has an important role in disease causation,” for that reason, Doctor Gupta suggests that “providers should ask about patient's diet and his (or her) perception of its role in disease causation.” (Gupta p.15) Death and dying in the Asian-Indian culture needs to be dealt properly among the healthcare workers. It is important to respect the family wishes for the ill or dying member of the family. As a relative is dying, Asian-Indians prefer to be present and assist in the cleaning and wrapping of the dead body. Asian-Indians believe that “upon death, the body should be touched minimally by health care workers.” (Gordon p. 4) Furthermore, Cremation of the body tends to be preferred among Asian-Indians.
In conclusion, learning about and respecting Asian-Indian’s culture will provide the best medical care. As a healthcare worker, I admire their close family ties and their involvement in their dying family member. Respecting and being an understandable healthcare worker will encourage more Asian-Indians to go to the
This is due to the fact that “hierarchy plays an important role within families.” (Jacobson) According to the article Care Seeking For Illness in Young Infants in an Urban Slum in India, women must not go to the doctor “unaccompanied” and their husband's permission and support must be granted before even taking their ill child to the doctor. (de Zoysa et al. p. 2107) Doctor Gupta, a board certified neurodevelopmental pediatrician, recommends the importance of healthcare providers to assure their Asian-Indian patients, especially women, “that the preventive examinations will be conducted sensitively so that not to offend their sense of modesty.” (Gupta p.16) Moreover, Doctor Gupta explains that a “male physician may have to examine a female patient with clothes on.” (Gupta …show more content…
It is of most importance that their dietary preferences are kept in mind when prescribing certain medications that could be derived from animal parts. Due to their dietary needs, many Asian-Indians would need reassurance that in the case of a hospital stay vegetarian food would be available for them. Asian-Indians believe that “diet has an important role in disease causation,” for that reason, Doctor Gupta suggests that “providers should ask about patient's diet and his (or her) perception of its role in disease causation.” (Gupta p.15) Death and dying in the Asian-Indian culture needs to be dealt properly among the healthcare workers. It is important to respect the family wishes for the ill or dying member of the family. As a relative is dying, Asian-Indians prefer to be present and assist in the cleaning and wrapping of the dead body. Asian-Indians believe that “upon death, the body should be touched minimally by health care workers.” (Gordon p. 4) Furthermore, Cremation of the body tends to be preferred among Asian-Indians.
In conclusion, learning about and respecting Asian-Indian’s culture will provide the best medical care. As a healthcare worker, I admire their close family ties and their involvement in their dying family member. Respecting and being an understandable healthcare worker will encourage more Asian-Indians to go to the