Health Perspectives (Case Study)
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Health Perspectives (Case Study)
What is the issue from a cultural perspective?
From the case provided, it is essential to understand what epidural means. Epidural refers to a type of pain reliever mainly administered to women undergoing labor pains or those who are yet to experience a cesarean section. In this procedure, local anesthesia is usually injected into the space found around these women’s lower backs (Dian & Zhang, 2018). This dosage usually blocks or relieves the pains that result from labor contractions and during childbirth.
From the Indian cultural practices, labor pains were perceived as gifts from the gods to a woman. Therefore, all women were expected to undergo pains during their children’s deliveries. Amiya Nidhi is a young immigrant who has just arrived in the United States of America from the case provided. She is still new in the land and is, therefore, bounded by her cultural beliefs. Her husband, who is also a cultural Indian, believes in their cultural practices of having women bear the pains of labor, and therefore, allowing his wife to receive the injections might in some way sabotage their cultural rituals and traditions. This practice is also very minimal in India, and therefore, most people lacked knowledge about the importance of having that medication, especially to mothers in those critical conditions (Borrelli et al. 2020).
Identify the 4C’s of the culture of this case study (The 4C’s of culture)
The 4C’s of culture refers to critical thinking, communications, collaborations, and lastly, creativity, and how these C’s can fit into the landscape of teaching and learning. Critical thinking mainly focusing on the bicultural of different people resulting from birth or migration. From this case, the first C is achieved by this child’s birth in a foreign country since the mother is an immigrant from India (Goncalves Filho & Waterson, 2018). The second C mainly deals with the attitude brought by the cultural diversities through the formation of identities.
From the case, Amiya’s support person, Marala, is conversant with epidural administration to expectant mothers to help them with the pain. She also understands that her sister is not familiar with the procedure and suggests it to her sister. Amiya was quick to understand the benefits of epidural and was willing to take it. However, she also understands that her husband gave shots from her culture and is worried about what her husband might think. She presents a positive attitude, which, in return, helps her doctor to convince her husband of the importance of having this process.
Health Perspectives (Case Study)
In collaboration, different people of different ideas come together and settle for a joint agreement. In this case, collaboration is evident in various aspects: For instance, the first collaboration is employed when Marala convinces her sister to take the medication to assist her with pain relief during the child delivery process. She shows her support and willingness to let her sister take the drug. The nurse, Cindy, overhears the conversation and understands the point of decision making that Amiya has to make (Goncalves Filho & Waterson, 2018). As a medical practitioner, she understands the importance of the medication; therefore, she takes a step to convince the husband of its benefits.
The last C is creativity. Most people have cultures that crash against each other. Methods of addressing these cultural differences also lead to conflicts. Therefore, it is better to figure out a creative way to discuss the differences and ensure that both parties win. Creativity, in this case, is mainly demonstrated by Cindy. Her creativity bears fruit as she reaches an agreement with Mr. Nidhi that allows his wife to receive the medication to help her with the labor pains, an act that is not often practiced back in India (Goncalves Filho & Waterson, 2018).
What would you have done differently? Why?
From the case provided, I would have done a couple of things different. Having adequate knowledge as a medical practitioner, I would have further explained to Amiya the benefits of having an epidural. This steroid injection delivers analgesics to the sites of pain therefore, reducing the labor pains. This procedure might also have its side effects. I would also explain to her all the risks that might result from having this steroid. Epidural procedure might lead to a temporary nerve damage or loss of bladder control to the patient. It would therefore be good to make the patient aware of the possible effects from the epidural. None of the people associated to Amiya explained the benefits and effects of having an epidural therefore, that is what I would have done different.
As a professional health practitioner, I would have also engaged Amiya and her sister and gathered their thoughts before approaching the husband. Medical regulations uphold the importance of maintaining patient’s privacy and it does not permit the professionals from sharing what they hear without their patient’s concent. The main reason for this is to avoid any patient-doctor conflicts that might rise due to sharing confidential information without engaging the primary source.
What responsibilities do healthcare providers have in this situation?
As healthcare providers, it is essential to understand all the cultural beliefs associated with patient treatments. Some cultural barriers affect how doctors should administer treatments. In this case, it is the healthcare provider’s responsibility to understand why it is against the patient’s culture to receive the medication. After that, it is their role to give education on the importance of the epidural and its benefits to the patient, just like nurse Cindy did.
References
Borrelli, S., Evans, K., Pallotti, P., Evans, C., Eldridge, J., & Spiby, H. (2020). Mixed‐methods systematic review: Childbearing women’s views, experiences, and decision‐making related to epidural analgesia in labor. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(12), 3273-3292.
Goncalves Filho, A. P., & Waterson, P. (2018). Maturity models and safety culture: A critical review. Safety Science, 105, 192-211.
Wu, S. W., Dian, H., & Zhang, W. Y. (2018). Labor onset, oxytocin use, and epidural Anesthesia for a vaginal birth after Cesarean section and associated effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes in a tertiary Hospital in China: A retrospective study. Chinese medical journal, 131(8), 933.
Health Perspectives (Case Study)
Question
Review the brief case study below (adopted from Understanding Cultural Diversity in Healthcare, 2019):
Amiya Nidhi was a young woman in her twenties who had recently immigrated to the United States from India. She was in the hospital to give birth. Her support person was her sister, Marala. Marala kept telling her to get an epidural, but Amiya said that even though she would like one, she could not get one; her husband would not allow it. Cindy, her nurse, overheard the conversation. Having learned that husbands are the authority figure in the traditional Indian household, she went to speak with Mr. Nidhi. She explained why an epidural would be advisable. She said that he seemed pleased that she came to him about it. He said he would think about it, and let her know.
Write a 2- to 3-page paper (page count does not include title or reference pages) that addresses the following:
1. What is the issue from a cultural perspective?
2. Identify the 4C’s of culture to this case study (The 4C’s of Culture).
3. What would have you done differently? Why?
4. What responsibilities do health care providers have in this situation?
Understanding Cultural Diversity in Healthcare. (2019). Case studies. Retrieved from https://www.ggalanti.org/case-studies-field-reports/