# Caring for Chinese, Filipino, & Vietnamese Populations
### Introduction
Asian America is a diverse demographic, encompassing various ethnic groups, each with unique health beliefs and practices. This essay examines the health perceptions and compliance behaviors of Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese American populations through the lenses of acculturation and cultural load.
### Chinese Americans and Hypertension Treatment
Chinese Americans often incorporate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into their health practices, viewing health as a balance between yin and yang. This perspective may lead to a reliance on herbal remedies rather than Western pharmaceuticals for managing hypertension (Pun & Chor, 2022). Additionally, TCM categorizes foods as “hot” or “cold,” influencing dietary choices. For instance, patients may avoid “cold” foods, which they believe worsen hypertension, despite potential health benefits.
Confucian values can also affect patient compliance. The emphasis on respect for authority can discourage Chinese Americans from questioning medical advice, potentially hindering open communication with healthcare providers and complicating treatment adherence (Badanta et al., 2022).
### Locus of Control in Filipino American Health-Seeking Behavior
The health-seeking behavior of Filipino Americans is shaped by their locus of control, with many exhibiting a fatalistic attitude towards health. This external locus of control often results in reliance on fate or luck, which can lead to avoidance of preventive care and early treatment (Atilola et al., 2021). Cultural beliefs, such as “bahala na,” further reinforce this mindset, making patients more passive in health management and potentially leading to non-compliance with prescribed treatments (Tingson & Brazal, 2022).
### Importance of Folk Medicine and Healers for Vietnamese Americans
Folk medicine plays a crucial role in the health practices of Vietnamese Americans. This approach, similar to TCM, emphasizes balance and the use of herbal remedies. Many Vietnamese Americans consult folk healers, known as *thay thuoc*, for various ailments, often integrating these practices with conventional medicine (Gurung, 2019). This reliance on folk remedies can complicate adherence to medical advice, as some patients may prioritize these treatments over prescribed therapies.
Healthcare providers must respect these traditional practices to build trust and improve health outcomes within Vietnamese communities. Understanding the importance of family involvement in healthcare decisions and the use of natural products can facilitate better patient-provider relationships.
### Conclusion
To provide culturally sensitive care, healthcare providers must understand the health beliefs and practices of Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese American populations. By recognizing the influence of traditional medicine, locus of control, and the role of folk healers, practitioners can more effectively address the healthcare needs of these diverse groups.
### References
Atilola, O., Stevanovic, D., Moreira, P., Dodig-Ćurković, K., Franic, T., Djoric, A., Davidovic, N., Avicenna, M., Noor, I. M., Monteiro, A. L., Ribas, A., Stupar, D., Deljkovic, A., Nussbaum, L., Thabet, A., Ubalde, D., Petrov, P., Vostanis, P., & Knez, R. (2021). External locus-of-control partially mediates the association between cumulative trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among adolescents from diverse backgrounds. *Anxiety, Stress, and Coping*, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2021.1891224
Badanta, B., González-Cano-Caballero, M., Suárez-Reina, P., Lucchetti, G., & de Diego-Cordero, R. (2022). How Does Confucianism Influence Health Behaviors, Health Outcomes and Medical Decisions? A Scoping Review. *Journal of Religion and Health*, 61(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01506-8
Gurung, R. A. (2019). Cultural influences on health. In *Cross‐Cultural Psychology: Contemporary Themes and Perspectives* (pp. 451-466). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119519348.ch21
Pun, J., & Chor, W. (2022). Use of questioning between traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and patients to realize TCM philosophy: holism, five elements, and Yin-Yang in the context of doctor–patient communication. *Health Communication*, 37(2), 163-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1828533
Tingson, J. M., & Brazal, A. M. (2022). Spirituality of hopeful risk-taking (Bahala na) among Filipino healthcare workers. *Journal of Public Health*, 44(4), e656-e657. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab393
2
Caring for Chinese, Filipino, & Vietnamese Populations
Melissa Godoy
St. Thomas University
NUR505: Diversity in Advanced Health Practice
Professor Marcia Derby-Davis, DNP
July 11, 2024
Caring for Chinese, Filipino, & Vietnamese Populations
Asian America is diverse and encompasses numerous groups, each possessing liberal arts perceptions concerning health and disease. Though this essay reviews general Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese American health practices and beliefs, it uses the notions of acculturation and culture load to explicate specifics concerning the said ethnic groups’ healthcare perceptions and compliance.
Chinese Americans and Hypertension Treatment
The following are some of the practices regarding health and illness that may interfere with hypertension treatment for Chinese American clients. The Chinese have another approach to the subject: TCM, wherein health is defined in terms of yin and yang, and disease indicates the imbalance of the two forces (Pun & Chor, 2022). Such an approach may make some Chinese Americans rely more on traditional medicines than Western medicines with chemicals for hypertension.
Moreover, the hot and cold food categorization in TCM may also influence apposite nutritional plans for hypertension patients with the TCM approach. Some Chinese Americans may avoid “cold” foods believed to aggravate hypertension, even if these foods are beneficial for blood pressure control.
In addition, Confucianism, which stimulates obedience to those in authority, can make some Chinese Americans comprehend that they do not have the right to question the doctor even if they disagree with the treatment (Badanta et al., 2022). This poses a challenge to patient compliance with the necessary regimes, such as medication intake and reporting of side effects, making hypertension work challenging.
Locus of Control in Filipino American Health-Seeking Behavior
The health-seeking behavior of Filipino Americans cannot be fully understood without knowledge about the locus of control, which indicates the degree of individuals’ beliefs about their ability to influence occurring events. Some Filipino Americans are inclined to be fatalistic, having an external locus of control regarding health promotion or disease prevention; hence, their health fate is controlled by luck, fate, or other influential individuals (Atilola et al., 2021).
Thus, the external locus of control can manifest in ways that affect health-seeking behavior. He later cited some cultural factors that may act as barriers to Filipino Americans’ decision to avoid preventive health measures or early medical treatment since getting sick is regarded as normal or is from God. They can also rely heavily on healthcare providers, particularly regarding the health status of such a patient.
Additionally, Filipino culture has the “bahala na,” which emphasizes leaving it to fate, hence extending the externality of locus of control. This thinking can result in patients seeking healthcare services and deviations from prescribed treatment regimes because they deem them futile (Tingson & Brazal, 2022).
Importance of Folk Medicine and Healers for Vietnamese Americans
Vietnamese American folk medicine and folk healers have an essential function in their community setting, particularly in parallel with conventional medicine. The Chinese approach stimulates some common principles regarding Vietnamese medicine, identifying the action of am and Duong and the circulation of khi (Gurung, 2019).
Many Vietnamese Americans go to folk healers, referred to as thay thuoc, for numerous ailments. Such practitioners may conduct herbal treatment, limb rubbing, cupping, or religious practices to overcome physical or psychological disorders (Gurung, 2019). The mental and spiritual balance that is emphasized in folk medicine is close to the majority of Vietnamese Americans’ confessional worldview regarding health and disease.
Besides, folk medical knowledge reflects Vietnamese people’s beliefs in the participation of family members in health care decisions and the use of natural products. Some Vietnamese Americans may rely on folk medicines as their primary therapeutic regime or in conjunction with orthodox medicine; this may compromise their compliance with the recommended treatment or, in some cases, cause interaction between the folk medicine and the prescribed drugs (Gurung, 2019).
Vietnamese American communities use folk medicine as part of their culture, so healthcare providers need to appreciate it. Given the prevalence of these practices and the willingness of some Vietnamese Americans to incorporate them with conventional medicine, providers will be able to foster trust and promote better health outcomes among their clients.
In conclusion, it is necessary to consider the issues connected with the health beliefs and practices of Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese American patients for the maleness who want to deliver culturally sensitive care in that community. Therefore, by acknowledging the effects of traditional medicine, locus of control beliefs, and the relevance of folk healers, healthcare providers will be able to address the isolated populations’ needs more adequately and hence enhance the required standards of health.
References
Atilola, O., Stevanovic, D., Moreira, P., Dodig-Ćurković, K., Franic, T., Djoric, A., Davidovic, N., Avicenna, M., Noor, I. M., Monteiro, A. L., Ribas, A., Stupar, D., Deljkovic, A., Nussbaum, L., Thabet, A., Ubalde, D., Petrov, P., Vostanis, P., & Knez, R. (2021). External locus-of-control partially mediates the association between cumulative trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among adolescents from diverse background. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2021.1891224
Badanta, B., González-Cano-Caballero, M., Suárez-Reina, P., Lucchetti, G., & de Diego-Cordero, R. (2022). How Does Confucianism Influence Health Behaviors, Health Outcomes and Medical Decisions? a Scoping Review. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01506-8
Gurung, R. A. (2019). Cultural influences on health. Cross‐Cultural Psychology: Contemporary Themes and Perspectives, 451-466. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119519348.ch21
Pun, J., & Chor, W. (2022). Use of questioning between traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and patients to realize TCM philosophy: holism, five elements and Yin-Yang in the context of doctor–patient communication. Health Communication, 37(2), 163-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1828533
Tingson, J. M., & Brazal, A. M. (2022). Spirituality of hopeful risk-taking (Bahala na) among Filipino healthcare workers. Journal of Public Health, 44(4), e656-e657. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab393
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