Response Post #1
Culture is defined as customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group (Webster, 2019). Competence suggests having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities (CDC, 2015). In healthcare, it is very important to be aware of different culture backgrounds. It helps with not only being able to communicate effectively but also knowing what diseases, sickness, etc. that the person is at greatest risk for. For example, in the treatment of depression, compared with white Americans, black and Latino patients are actually less likely to receive treatment (Ball et al., 2019).
The patient I was given is a 14 year old biracial male living with his grandmother in a high-density public housing complex. For the purpose of obtain a health history with this particular patient it is important to consider everything about this patient. The patients age, sex, ethnicity, living conditions, etc. will all need to be taken into account. This particular age group are reluctant to talk and have a definite need for confidentiality (Ball et al., 2019). It is important that adolescent patients be given the opportunity to speak to you privately about concerns or issues that they may have (Ball et al., 2019). It is meaningful that you let the patient know the limits of confidentiality and that if any information provided suggests that an adolescence safety or others safety may be at risk, that its grounds to “break” confidentiality (Ball et al., 2019). Prior to the office visit, there a previsit questionnaires and screeners that the patient can fill out and this sometimes helps allow the patient to write down concerns or have a choice of concerns (Ball et al., 2019). Then based off the answers, it can help you ask appropriate questions during the interviewing process.
Based off of the patients age, ethnicity, and living conditions I would use the HEEADSSS screening tool. This screening tool assess the home environment, education/employment, eating, activities, drugs, sexuality, suicide/depression, and safety from injury and violence (Ball et al., 2019). Questions that can be asked needs to be open ended questions such as …
Tell me about where you live?
How are you liking school?
What do you like to do, any activities in school or out of school?
Do you ever hang out with your friends outside of school? What do you like to do? Are you ever in situations that make you uncomfortable? Have you ever tried drugs or alcohol?
In order to assess for suicide/depression, there are screening tools. The screening questions may include asking about sleep disorders, appetite/eating behavior change, feelings of “boredom”, emotional outbursts and highly impulsive behavior, hopeless/helpless feeling, history of family with depression or suicide, suicidal ideation, history of psychosocial/emotional trauma, or those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender youth (BCC Hospital, 2019).
