NURS 6512 Week 2 Assignment Building A Health History

NURS 6512 Week 2 Assignment

Building A Health History

Student name

Walden University

NURS6512

Professor name

Date

Building A Health History

A thorough health history is one of the essentials of effective patient care, especially where cultural, linguistic, and social dynamics define how patients experience health and relate to the healthcare system. When dealing with WH, a 62-year-old Chinese male with limited English proficiency, a considerate and culturally sensitive approach must be used to establish trust, inspire openness, and make sure the correct information is gathered. The fact that he is widowed, relies on his bilingual daughter, and does not want to be taken care of is important, as it is necessary to combine the evidence-based communication strategies with the awareness of socioeconomic, spiritual, and cultural factors. The cultural and lifestyle issues that influence WH, the problems that need to be approached sensitively, and the strategies that can best be used to communicate with him. The health history questions that would be most appropriate to interview him, and the risk assessment tool that would be the most effective in his care, will be discussed in this paper.

Socioeconomic, Spiritual, Lifestyle, and Cultural Factors

WH is a 62-year-old widowed Chinese man who has partial family support, his adult daughter and grandchild being his primary sources of support. In terms of socioeconomic status, the fact that he is relying on his daughter to take care of him could be a sign that he is financially dependent, particularly when he is retired or lacks health insurance. Traditionally and culturally, most older Chinese adults believe in traditional values, including filial piety, which highlights that children should care about their aging parents; this also perhaps explains why WH refuses care since he might feel like a burden. Culturally informed eating habits may also be part of his lifestyle, including a preference for high-sodium foods (e.g., foods with soy sauce), which can impact hypertension management (Nemec, 2020). Moreover, issues with language and a poor knowledge of English may also affect his communication skills with healthcare professionals and his health system navigation skills.

Issues Requiring Sensitivity

In dealing with WH, care must be taken when dealing with his cultural values, language barrier, and emotional status as a widower (Tran et al., 2023). He can feel that to allow care is an expression of weakness or loss of control, and he resists. The fact that his daughter is both a caregiver and a nurse can lead to a situation where he is very appreciative yet ambivalent at the same time, and may even feel guilty about being dependent on his daughter. Moreover, the Chinese community may be hesitant to discuss health issues, especially emotional and mental health problems, because in their culture, it is often stigmatized. Awareness of such concerns will contribute to developing trust and making sure that WH does not feel disrespected and misunderstood.

Communication Techniques

The best way to communicate with WH would be to have his bilingual daughter translate with him alongside a professional medical interpreter to guarantee accuracy and limit the probability of misunderstanding. Simple and clear language, without any medical terms, and visual aids or translated written materials would help to understand as well. The use of culturally sensitive methods, like respecting him by addressing him with courtesy and recognizing his life experience, will contribute to building rapport. It is also necessary to show sensitivity and good listening skills by listening to the speaker, being respectful in body language, and giving them more time to reply. This is because these techniques minimise the chances of misinterpretation and make WH feel important in decision-making. 

Interview and Questions

During the health history interview with WH, I would consider establishing a trusting rapport with him as I collect pertinent information about his physical, emotional, and cultural history. They would consist of five targeted questions:

1. How do you feel since you started your new blood pressure medicine? – This evaluates his subjective experience, adherence, and side effects.

2. What are some of the foods you normally consume on a normal day? – To measure eating habits, particularly sodium intake, which plays a role in hypertension.

3. What is your typical health care at home? – To determine traditional remedies, self-care behaviors, or cultural beliefs that affect health behaviors.

4. Do you stress, feel lonely, or worried now that your wife has died? To evaluate emotional well-being, grief, or potential depression.

5. What are the important activities that you keep on doing in your everyday life? – To know what matters in lifestyle and integrate that into care planning.

The questions are presented respectfully without attacking WH directly, but rather asking him to tell his stories using a tone that gives his voice the respect it deserves.

Risk Assessment Instrument

In the case of WH, the most relevant tool would be the Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) (Gonzalez-Colom et al., 2024). This is a self-reported health assessment tool that uses a combination of self-reported lifestyle, medical history, and risk factor data to create an individual health profile. This is suitable since it takes into consideration other risk factors that can be altered, like diet, physical activity, stress, and medication compliance, which are crucial when treating hypertension. Also, the HRA is universal and may be modified to work with translated texts, thus being applicable to a patient with poor English understanding. Applying this tool would give WH and his health care team a clear understanding of his overall health risks, which would inform both evidence-based and culturally sensitive interventions.

Conclusion

Overall, the case of WH demonstrates that health history building can be quite complex when there are language barriers, cultural traditions, and personal circumstances that interact. It is important to address his socioeconomic and spiritual background, be sensitive to his hesitance to receive care, and use culturally competent communication techniques to foster and facilitate effective care. The specific health history inquiries (developed to investigate diet, medication impact, emotional conditions, lifestyle priorities) can ensure that the unique needs of WH are considered and honored. One can use the Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) to fully understand their risks and plan individual care. Finally, cultural sensitivity intertwined with evidence-based practice enables the development of patient-centered care and enables WH to become an active participant in the management of his health.