Culture Factors and Their Influence on Medication

Culture Factors and Their Influence on Medications

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Culture Factors and Their Influence on Medications
Impact on Medication Preparation
One cultural factor among African Americans is the belief that medication preparation is linked to high level of illiteracy. Hence, rather than preferring conventional medicine prepared through evidence-based approaches, the African Americans believe in alternative medications that are closely developed through traditional methods based on their religious and cultural approach to health. As a result, traditional indigenous medicines dominate the health care among the African Americans living in low-income households of New York, who prepare their medication from plants to promote their health.
These African Americans tend to avoid conventional medicine by preferring the use of traditional medications that have made them vulnerable to some health conditions. These medications prepared primarily from herbs are complemented with manipulative therapies, prayers, and ceremonies that aim to prevent some health issues. While some of these medications have been adopted as alternative medicine, others lack scientific backing. While using traditional/ spiritual healers, they avoid modern medications that oppose their medical practices. The bases of preference for holistic medication are founded on the need to conserve their traditions and the urgency to adopt modern medications in the 21st century.
Impacts of Medications Administration
The African Americans from impoverished households mostly believe in buying medications over the counter, whereby the pharmacists diagnose them. These individuals avoid the proper or prerequisite diagnosis procedures and buy medications based on what they believe to be causing medical complications. As a result, they misdiagnose themselves because they do not adhere to the required medical procedures. This medication approach is attributed to low socioeconomic status and high levels of illiteracy.
The pronounced use of self-medication among African Americans promotes health care inequalities because the dominant whites prefer going through medical diagnosis to enhance their medical health. More so, for people in vulnerable minority groups, like African Americans, buying medicine over the counter results in their lack of medical records, which can adversely affect the quality of care physicians offer.
In the African Americans culture, women commonly suffer from nervous attacks as an ordinary feature beyond their control. The nerve attack popular among the African Americans working class is characterized by screaming and sighing, losing consciousness, and falling. Despite the nervous attack being common, the men perceive that to be normal, and the victims are not allowed to seek medical attention. The women claim that men’s dominance and lack of empowerment limit their chances of getting medical attention. Consequently, these women continue to suffer from this condition without being diagnosed by medical professionals.
The medical condition facing African Americans women has continued to advance health care disparity because they cannot access proper diagnoses. Lack of diagnosis of the nervous breakdown plays a critical in hindering access to medical care in this group. Lack of diagnosis of the health condition limits treatment as the symptoms are not classified after medical tests. The problem may be attributed to depression and stress among women. The categorization of the syndrome or nervous seizures and lack of diagnostic approaches reflects how cultural attributes of some ethnic groups promote health care disparity in an environment where the U.S. is making efforts to advance equality, diversity, and inclusion. Notably, cultural issues are limiting factors that result in a lack of access to quality health care since these practices are not based on scientific approaches. The cultural practices aim to advance the interests of the powerful individuals or are attributed to a lack of health care information due to low socioeconomic status.
Two Potential Adverse Reactions
According to Marsh( 2021), one type of to medication is the dose-related reaction. The due to the therapeutic impact of the drug on the body. That kind of reaction occurs when the active ingredient adversely affects the body. The impact may be revealed through rashes, sweat, and weakness. These reactions are sometimes predictable and cannot be avoided. are common and can be mild or severe depending on individuals. These effects are sometimes referred to as side effects of medications. In case they are extreme, one may seek medical attention.
do not relate to drugs but occur when the immune system may be sensitive to a respective drug. When one becomes sensitive to some drugs, allergic reactions take place. These reactions may be mild or extreme; however, they must be monitored closely to enhance their management. In some situations, doctors may carry out some tests to explore the chances of allergic reactions. .
Issue with Adherence to Medication Regimen and Solution
According to . (2018), one of the issues with adherence to medication regimens among African Americans who lack trust in the use of ARVs. Most African Americans postulate that the use of ARVs reflects their use as human guinea pigs in control of the spread of AIDs. Thus, mistrust by African Americans results in non-adherence to medication resulting in increased health care disparity between the whites and people of color. The solution to the trust issue is ensuring the vulnerable population is informed about health care practices by professionals who share a common cultural background. Structural discrimination must be addressed by ensuring that health care personnel are trained from minority groups that better understand them and can solve their medical adherence issues.

References
Brach, C., Hall, K.K. & Fitall, E. (2019). Cultural Competence and Patient Safety. PSNET. https://psnet.ahrq.gov/perspective/cultural-competence-and-patient-safety
Marsh, D.E.S. (2021). Overview of Adverse Drug Reactions. MSD Manual. https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/drugs/adverse-drug-reactions/overview-of-adverse-drug-reactions
McQuaid, E. L., & Landier, W. (2018). Cultural Issues in Medication Adherence: Disparities and Directions. Journal of general internal medicine, 33(2), 200206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-017-4199-3