Reference no: EM133503564
Question:
Mono Nu is a 44-year-old Filipino patient who presents at the clinic for his scheduled blood thinner laboratory investigations along with his regular follow-up examination. However, upon reviewing his International Normalized Ratio (INR) results, it is evident that he is still out of the desired range. The patient self-reports being compliant to the prescribed anticoagulants despite his abnormal laboratory results. Specific socioeconomic, spiritual, lifestyle, and cultural factors associated with this patient's background should be considered to understand the potential factors contributing to his abnormal results. Socioeconomic considerations must be made to understand the patient's financial situation along with his health insurance status. An inquiry about his ability to afford medication, medical appointments, as well as any potential barriers to accessing healthcare services should be made. Socioeconomic status impacts access to healthcare and medication adherence which might explain the inconsistent readings.
The Philippines is predominantly a Catholic country where religious beliefs and practices may influence health-related decisions. It would be prudent to assess Mono Nu's spiritual beliefs and whether they have any impact on his views regarding medications or treatment. Asking about his religious affiliation or spiritual practices and whether he seeks guidance from religious leaders regarding healthcare decisions may shed some light into his health-seeking behavior. The patient's healthcare approach may be tailored to provide holistic care based on his spiritual beliefs (Abdul et al., 2021).
Additional cultural factors specific to the Filipino population should be considered. Filipino cuisine often includes fermented foods which may affect medication absorption and metabolism. Mono Nu's dietary history and preferences are essential aspects of the evaluation. Some cultural practices may influence medication adherence or preference for alternative remedies. The patient's cultural background, beliefs about health or illness, as well as any specific cultural practices he follows are important elements of the patient-practitioner relationship.
Sensitivity to socioeconomic factors should be observed, as many individuals may face financial constraints or lack health insurance (Ryu & Fan, 2022). Secondly, the healthcare practitioner should be mindful of the patient's spiritual beliefs. Lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise habits, should also be addressed with sensitivity. Mono Nu mentions a diet rich in fish and tofu. However, his overall dietary patterns including the consumption of other food groups and portion sizes are of concern to his health history. Finally, language barriers may exist if English is not the patient's first language. A professional Nurse practitioner is expected to be attentive to any difficulties the patient may face in communicating his health concerns or understanding medical terminology. Interpretation services can be offered when necessary to ensure effective communication and promote patient engagement in their care (Huang, Pun & Huang, 2022).
Targeted questions to build the patient's health history and assess his health risks:
- What are your religious or spiritual beliefs? How have they influenced your approach to healthcare?
- What challenges, if any, do you face in affording your medications and medical appointments?
- How would you describe your typical daily diet? (Include portion sizes and frequency of meals.)
- Do you engage in any regular physical activity or exercise? If so, what types and how often?
- Are there any cultural practices or traditions that you follow related to health and illness?
Respond to the above write up/above. Critique the write up targeted questions and explain how the patient might interpret these questions. Explain whether any of the questions would apply to your patient, and why.
My patient is Paloma Hernandez, 26-year-old, Spanish speaking patient who presents to the clinic for the last 2 days in a row complaining of abdominal pain that is getting worse. The first visit the staff relied on her younger bilingual daughter to translate. She was treated with Omeprazole and encouraged to take OTC medication. Today she presents with the same problem. Her daughter states it is the same problem but worse today.