Tucker c marsiske m rice k nielson j herman k 2011

doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301798
Tucker, C., Marsiske, M., Rice, K., Nielson, J., & Herman, K. (2011). Patient-centered culturally
sensitive health care: Model testing and refinement. Health Psychology, 30 (3), 342-350.
doi:10.1037/a0022967

Lillian,
Good post regarding this very prevalent culture in the United States. The elderly Asian
population is growing, which requires special considerations and cultural sensitivity. The patient in this
scenario states that he doesn’t want to be a burden to his daughter, with whom he lives with. From this
statement I would be inclined to assess this patient’s emotional health. Adjustments to lifestyle and aging
pose a challenge to the mental health of the elderly (Mathews, 2016a). It has been documented that older
persons, especially those with illness and disability, are at an increased risk for suicide (2016a). Asians
tend to somatize psychological distress (Yu et al, 2016b). In the Asian culture, there is a stigma
associated with mental illness (2016b). A targeted question to include in this patient’s assessment would
be, “Do you ever feel down, depressed, or hopeless?” It is A few studies involving elderly populations of
Asia have found that depressed participants report sleep-related issues such as poorer sleep efficiency,
sleep disturbances, breathing discomfort, coldness and pain, increased sleep latency, poor subjective sleep
quality, and the use of sleep medicines (2016b). As the practitioner caring for a patient in the Asian
population, it is critical to understand the coping mechanisms utilized in this culture in order to provide
proper care.
References
Mathews, M. (2016a). The experience of counseling among a Singaporean elderly population: A
qualitative account of what clients report as beneficial. Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology,
2016 (13), 277-291. doi:10.1007/s10823-016-9290-4
Yu, J., Rawtaer, I., Fam, J., Jiang, M., Feng, L., Kua, E., & Mahendran, R. (2016b). Sleep correlates of
depression and anxiety in an elderly Asian population. Psychogeriatrics, 2016 (16), 191-195.
doi:10.111/psyg.12138

Meghan,
Thank you for the post on a potentially very sensitive subject. As a practitioner, we have to
possess an open mind and be free from prejudices. This scenario presents with a 32-year-old pregnant
lesbian patient. The patient is being seen for an annual physical. She has been receiving care from an
obstetrician. Many practitioners are heterosexist and nearly eliminate sexual identity in history taking,
while others tend to be curious and inquisitive about the childbearing lesbian (Singer, 2012). As a
primary care practitioner, it is essential to build a trusting relationship between the patient and the
provider. For a lesbian woman, trust is more likely to be achieved with a health care provider whose
philosophy is to maintain inclusion and cultural sensitivity (2012).