Archive for the ‘health’ Category

Health treatments and philosophies in 10 countries

Perhaps it’s the interest sparked by the ongoing debate in Washington, but I’ve been stumbling across a number of health care-related articles these days and several of them delve into the intersection of policy and national culture. There was a recent story in the NY Times about T.R. Reid’s new book, The Healing of America, in which [...]

October 14, 2009 health 2 Comments

From doctors to shamans

It’s no secret that culture plays a role in health care, from our systems of medicine to our personal decisions. When a person receives health care in his or her home country, there are unlikely to be many clashes over culture because it’s a medical system that he or she knows and understand well. The United States is not a [...]

October 9, 2009 health 0 Comments

How culture affects even health care policy

One of the big debates going on in Washington and around the U.S. these days, of course, revolves around the nation’s health care programs. I’m no policy wonk, so I’m not going to wade into a debate about issues here, but rather point out that even health care is related to national culture and values. [...]

July 27, 2009 health 0 Comments

Hispanics may agonize over cultural values and elder care decisions

As we talk about differences in cultures around the world, it’s easy to forget that there are also many cultures and worldviews residing all around us. Among the various racial and ethnic groups in the United States, there are of course different foods, music and traditions, but there are also different ways in which people perceive the world [...]

May 4, 2009 health 0 Comments

Cultural miscues in health care

A new study is out with evidence that cultural differences and misunderstandings often lead to disparities in medical outcomes. According to this story in the NY Times, patients and doctors who have different cultural backgrounds are often on different wavelengths when it comes to dispensing and following medical advice. … a new study of diabetes patients has found [...]

June 11, 2008 health 0 Comments

Modern life means fewer siestas

In many of the world’s warmer climates, the mid-day siesta is a time-honored tradition. People have always taken time off to rest or nap in the mid-day heat and then tend to keep more active in the cooler hours of evening. But in many of these regions, modern life is causing the decline of the siesta, [...]

August 29, 2007 health 1 Comment

The quest for different skin tone

It does seem a bit ironic, but the fact is that many Westerners long for darker skin (via sunbathing, tanning booths and tanning creams), while Asians tend to go the other way in a search for lighter skin (yes, often by using skin lightening creams). Now, apparently, a number of Western cosmetic and skin care companies [...]

June 1, 2007 health 0 Comments

Differing ideals of beauty

As one travels around the world, it becomes obvious that different cultures have varying ideals of beauty. A recent Associated Press article touches on this subject, focusing on the West African nation of Mauritania, where some families force feed their daughters because obesity is considered a sign of beauty and wealth. Mey Mint struggles to carry [...]

April 19, 2007 health 0 Comments

Cross-cultural health care

A simple conversation between a doctor and a patient can often cause problems when the two individuals are from different cultures. Due to a growing awareness of such challenges, some efforts are now underway to improve the cultural competence of health care providers. One such program has been launched in Maryland and was recently profiled in this [...]

March 14, 2007 health 0 Comments

AIDS and African cultural traditions

For years now, those on the front lines of the fight against AIDS in Africa have focused on the most traditional means of transmitting the disease.  Now, though, there is evidence that AIDS may also be spread through some cultural traditions, such as local healing methods, tribal body markings and even child care practices.  The NY Times has a story on [...]

November 21, 2006 health 0 Comments

Adapting medical care to culture

Medical facilities in the U.S. are becoming more aware of the need to adapt their practices to different cultures, as evidenced by this article about New York area hospitals. (This) reflects a broader national shift in health care as urban hospitals move beyond the translation services that started becoming common in the late 1990′s and [...]

June 4, 2006 health 1 Comment

Need surgery? Try Thailand

A few years ago, David Elliot Cohen wrote a book (One Year Off) about a round-the-world journey with his wife and three children.  While in Thailand, his daughter had a finger injury and needed minor surgery at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok.  Apprehensive at first, he was amazed at the quality and efficiency of the care, not [...]

May 30, 2006 health 1 Comment