Cross-Cultural Health Care Katie Lai, Pharm.D, BCPS Asian Asian - PDF document

Asian, African, and Hispanic Asian, African, and Hispanic Cross-Cultural Health Care Katie Lai, Pharm.D, BCPS � Asian Asian— —mostly Southeast Asia mostly Southeast Asia � � China, Thailand, Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia etc.. China, Thailand, Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia etc.. � � African African— —mostly East African mostly East African � � Somali, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Kenya Somali, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Kenya � � Hispanic Hispanic � � Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican � Hand Gestures Hand Gestures Cultural Considerations Cultural Considerations � In the U.S. In the U.S.- - the middle finger is disrespectful the middle finger is disrespectful � � Asia: this finger is used to make a point while talking Asia: this finger is used to make a point while talking � � Hand gestures Hand gestures � � Outside of the U.S. Outside of the U.S.- - the left hand is disrespectful the left hand is disrespectful � � Africa and Asia: writing with the left hand is forbidden Africa and Asia: writing with the left hand is forbidden � � Birthdays Birthdays � � Africa uses the right hand to eat and greet. Giving the Africa uses the right hand to eat and greet. Giving the � prescription to African pts with left hand is inappropriate prescription to African pts with left hand is inappropriate � Using the index finger to point or to call an African pt is Using the index finger to point or to call an African pt is � � Time Time considered inappropriate and a put considered inappropriate and a put- -down down � � Asia and Africa: hand holding with the same sex is normal Asia and Africa: hand holding with the same sex is normal � � Hand gestures Hand gestures— —waving a patient to come waving a patient to come � Names Names � � � Palm facing down is a way of communicating with Mien pts Palm facing down is a way of communicating with Mien pts �

Birthdays Birthdays Time and Year Time and Year Important in the U.S. but not in Asia or Africa � � Important in the U.S. but not in Asia or Africa Asia: it is flattering to be considered older than you look Asia: it is flattering to be considered older than you look— —status driven status driven In the US: Time differences based on location In the US: Time differences based on location � � � � Asia: 1 year old at birth � � Asia: 1 year old at birth American: it is flattering to be considered younger than you loo American: it is flattering to be considered younger than you look k � � Ethiopia: time is based on sunrise--- Ethiopia: time is based on sunrise ---6 hrs different 6 hrs different � � � When the appointment slip states 10 AM, they call it 4 AM When the appointment slip states 10 AM, they call it 4 AM � st birthdays Popularity of January 1 Popularity of January 1 st birthdays � � � Understanding medication and insulin use Understanding medication and insulin use � � � Many foreign patients do not know their real age or birthday Many foreign patients do not know their real age or birthday � Important in timing of antibiotics or medications that are time Important in timing of antibiotics or medications that are time � Africa: no birth record since babies are born in villages and not hospitals Africa: no birth record since babies are born in villages and no t hospitals � � sensitive— sensitive —interpreters may need to give them both times interpreters may need to give them both times st of the estimated year INS will designate them January 1 INS will designate them January 1 st of the estimated year � � � � Lack of knowledge in age affects calculating creatinine clearance and timing of Lack of knowledge in age affects calculating creatinine clearanc e and timing of � Calendar Calendar � pneumococcal injection pneumococcal injection � Lunar in Asia: 12 lunar animals Lunar in Asia: 12 lunar animals � � Julian in Ethiopia: now 1997 and New Year = September 11th Julian in Ethiopia: now 1997 and New Year = September 11th � Memorial dates Memorial dates � � � Gregorian in the U.S: 12 months and now 2005 Gregorian in the U.S: 12 months and now 2005 U.S. U.S.— —a national holiday to celebrate a significant person a national holiday to celebrate a significant person’ ’s birthday s birthday � � � Asia and Africa Asia and Africa— —memorial of ancestors memorial of ancestors— —day to remember a person day to remember a person’ ’s death s death � � � Need to tell them when the pharmacy is closing since they do not Need to tell them when the pharmacy is closing since they do not celebrate celebrate � US =month/day/year Vs. outside of US: day/month/year US =month/day/year Vs. outside of US: day/month/year � � � They may interpret refill or expiration date as: day/month/year They may interpret refill or expiration date as: day/month/year � Babyshowers: before birth or after birth? Babyshowers: before birth or after birth? � Example: Example: “ “May refill until 2/10/04 May refill until 2/10/04” ” = October 2 = October 2 nd nd , 2004 , 2004 � � � Asia and Africa: celebrate birth after baby is born due to high Asia and Africa: celebrate birth after baby is born due to high mortality mortality � � Names Names � First name and last name First name and last name � � Asia: prefer last name, first name in spoken and written languag Asia: prefer last name, first name in spoken and written language e � � Cambodia: there is no comma between the two in written language Cambodia: there is no comma between the two in written language � � Asia and Africa: names could be interchanged first, last or both Asia and Africa: names could be interchanged first, last or both � � Africa: they do not use last name Africa: they do not use last name— —called by first name (Mr. First name) called by first name (Mr. First name) � � In the pharmacy, it is okay to address African patients by their In the pharmacy, it is okay to address African patients by their first name first name � � Addressing an Hispanic and Asian female patient Addressing an Hispanic and Asian female patient � � Name change after marriage: not in Asia or Africa Name change after marriage: not in Asia or Africa � � Children Children’ ’s last name s last name � � Africa : from father Africa : from father’ ’s last name and they do not have a middle name s last name and they do not have a middle name � � Cambodia: majority are from father Cambodia: majority are from father’ ’s first name, some from last name s first name, some from last name � � Names based on seasons, date, year, and rank Names based on seasons, date, year, and rank � Asian, African, and Hispanic Asian, African, and Hispanic � Communication Style Communication Style � � Health Beliefs Health Beliefs � � Medication Use Medication Use �