Titular: Assessment and Health and Illness Beliefs
Introduction:
Assessment is an essential component of healthcare practice that involves collecting relevant information about a patient’s physical, psychological, social, and cultural aspects to develop an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. People’s health and illness beliefs reflect their individual perceptions about the quality of life and what they have experienced. These beliefs can influence how patients respond to assessments. Cultural factors could also impact the results of the assessments. This article discusses how beliefs about illness and health can impact the assessment process.
On the Assessment Process, Influence of Health and Illness Beliefs
How a client reacts during an interview may be affected by their health or illness beliefs. One example is when a client believes seeking medical assistance is an indication of weakness. This could make it difficult for them to be honest during interview. However, patients who view illness as an inevitable part of human life will be less likely to deny their diagnosis and can provide detailed information about the illness. Therefore, healthcare providers must understand their patients’ health and illness beliefs to build trust and establish effective communication during the assessment process.
Additionally, the evaluation process may be affected by cultural factors. Some cultures might consider it rude to have eye contact with the healthcare provider from the other sex. This could lead to limited eye contact during interview. This may impact the healthcare provider’s ability to assess the patient’s mental status accurately. Additionally, cultural factors may influence patients’ perceptions of pain, which may result in underreporting or over-reporting of pain levels during the assessment process. To interpret these assessment findings accurately, healthcare professionals should be mindful of cultural differences.
Conclusion:
Conclusion: Health and illness beliefs have a significant impact on the assessment process. Healthcare providers must understand their patients’ beliefs to build trust and establish effective communication during the interview process. Cultural factors can also influence physical results during assessment. To interpret assessment findings accurately, healthcare professionals should be mindful of cultural differences. Effective diagnosis and treatment can be made easier by understanding the influence of illness and health beliefs.
References:
Giddens, J. F., & Brady, V. (2020). Health Assessment for Nursing Practice-Ebook. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Smith-Oka, V. (2017). Culture beliefs and practices for health. Pediatric Clinics 64(2): 367-379.