scholarly journals Patient Journeys of Nonintegration in Hungary: A Qualitative Study of Possible Reasons for Considering Medical Modalities as Mutually Exclusive

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1270-1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szilvia Zörgő ◽  
Olga L. Olivas Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Health Care Market ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Therapy Choice ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
Cam Use

Introduction: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has been increasing in the past decades in tandem with changes regarding the notions of health and illness. Comparing conventional medicine (CM) and CAM in how they address health problems has been a point of focus for both the health sciences and individuals dealing with health problems. Various social, cultural, political, economic, and personal factors play a role in whether different health approaches are integrated or not when addressing illness experiences. Methods: The qualitative study comprised semistructured interviews (N = 9) and participant observation involving 105 patients conducted between January 2015 and May 2017 at 4 clinics of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Budapest, Hungary. Code structures were created inductively with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: The mutually exclusive view of CM/CAM use occurred due to loss of trust in the doctor-patient relationship causing problems in communication, and also as a result of the patient espousing certain cultural dispositions. Significant dispositions included a preference for the “natural” and psychologization, the latter often manifested in psychosocial etiology, vitalism, and illness symbolism. Discussion: A polarized choice of therapy may occur as a result of a competitive health care market in which medical modalities and their underlying cultural systems compete within a global milieu of information proliferation and a hybridization of individual worldviews. Through a process of “cultural creolization”, changing concepts of health and illness create varying patient expectations and meanings regarding illness, which in turn affect therapy choice as well. Conclusion: Mirrored in the articulation of an individual’s illness trajectory is a tension that is also reflected in the struggles in the health care system to more adequately understand health/illness processes from a pluralistic perspective. The power relations in the health arena (among CAM/CM practitioners and systems) play a role in legitimizing or undermining different health practices, which as consequence affects the possibility of integrating them into the processes of care. Thus, therapy choice is not only linked to changing notions of health and illness, but also to shifting conceptualizations of self, identity, and the practitioner-patient relationship.

scholarly journals Barriers to weight management in pregnant mothers with obesity: a qualitative study on mothers with low socioeconomic background

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Mehrabi ◽  
Najva Ahmaripour ◽  
Sara Jalali-Farahani ◽  
Parisa Amiri
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Low Socioeconomic

Abstract Background Maternal obesity is a public health issue that could affect both women’s and children’s health. This qualitative study aimed to identify barriers to weight management of pregnant women with obesity and low socioeconomic backgrounds. Methods The current qualitative study has been conducted using a grounded theory approach by analyzing data collected from in-depth interviews with clients of Tehran’s public health care centers for prenatal care. The criteria for selecting participants were excessive weight gain during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, low socioeconomic status, and willingness to share their experiences. A semi-structured guide consisting of open-ended questions was asked in a private room. Open, axial, and selective coding were applied to the data. Findings Four main themes emerged from data, each of which has some subcategories: 1) personal factors (unpleasant emotions and feelings, personal tastes/hobbies, workload and responsibilities, and history of diseases), 2) pregnancy status (unintended and high-risk pregnancy), 3) interpersonal relationships and support (lack of a spouse’s support and unhealthy role modeling of relatives), 4) socio-cultural factors/influences (social norms and values, lack of access to health services, and unreliable information channels). Conclusions This study provides an overview of the barriers to the weight management of pregnant women from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The results could help develop appropriate health strategies for low socioeconomic women with obesity. Also, health care providers for this group of women could use these findings as a guide to consider their conditions and background.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Integrative Medicine Approaches

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalpana D. Shere-Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Alternative Medications ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not currently considered part of conventional medicine. If a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, it is considered “complementary.” If a non-mainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine, it is considered “alternative.” Many patients use CAM approaches to their care. Often, patients do not disclose what methods they are using, and providers may have little knowledge of the effects of alternative medications. Interactions with antiretroviral therapy and other medications are important to the care of the patient. Physicians need to routinely ask about CAM use, particularly herbal medicines and supplements.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude, Perception of Biological Science and Healthcare Professional Students to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Health Belief and Practice in Southeastern Region of Bangladesh: A Comparative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-167
Author(s):  
ASM Ali Reza ◽  
Nahid Sikdar ◽  
Mst Samima Nasrin ◽  
Md Atiar Rahman ◽  
Abu Montakim Tareq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
Spiritual Healing ◽  
Professional Students ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Southeastern Region ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

The health professionals require scientific knowledge to advise their patients on complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). Previously, several studies were conducted regarding the CAM perception, attitude and use on health care professionals only; in contrast, our study encompasses both students of health care professionals and other disciplines. The aim of this study was to compare the attitudes and perception about CAM practices between students of biological sciences (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Botany) and health care professionals (Pharmacy and medical students) in public and private universities located in the southeastern region in Bangladesh. The questionnaire-based study conducted on 332 systematically sampled students (four private and one public universities) located in the southeastern region in Bangladesh. The cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July, 2018. All students showed a positive attitude towards CAM use. Herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutritional supplements followed by hypnosis, massage, spiritual healing, and meditation were the most commonly known and used CAM modalities. Most of the students (40.7%) believed that the integration of CAM and conventional medicine should be essential in health care setting. The major obstacles for CAM use are patient interest (48.2%) and lack of physician interest (43.4%). In addition, 36.7% students believed that CAM practices should be included in their school’s curriculum. Moreover, 39.5% students assumed that CAM knowledge is important to their daily life. Biological sciences and healthcare professional students of Bangladesh showed positive perception on CAM uses. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 24(2): 159-167, 2021

Health and Health Care Problems Among the Kumiai of San Antonio Necua and Their Indigenous Relatives in Baja California

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Jill Fleuriet
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Baja California ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Medical Pluralism ◽  
Indigenous Groups ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
Care Problems

The rural Kumiai community of San Antonio Necua is one of the few remaining indigenous communities in Baja California, Mexico. Necuan health and health care problems are best understood through a consideration of the effects of colonialism and marginalization on indigenous groups in northern Baja California as well as a tradition of medical pluralism in Mexico. The lack of traditional healers and biomedical providers in the community, high rates of preventable or manageable illnesses, and a blend of biomedical, folk mestizo, and traditional indigenous beliefs about health and illness reflect current conditions of rural poverty and economic isolation. Descriptions of health and health care problems are based on ethnographic fieldwork among the Kumiai, their Paipai relatives, and their primary nongovernmental aid organization.

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