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Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey.

INTRODUCTION In a multiethnic nation, it is not uncommon for doctors to encounter patients of different cultural backgrounds. Often, patients' cultural beliefs influence their perception of health and illnesses, and their treatment option. Many Chinese cultural beliefs are influenced by the...

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Main Authors: Chew, K S, Tan, T W, Ooi, Y T
Format: E-Article
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
R Medicine (General)
RZ Other systems of medicine
Online Access:http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11659/1/5204a2.pdf
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11659/
http://smj.sma.org.sg/
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spelling my.unimas.ir.116592016-04-25T07:03:57Z http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11659/ Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey. Chew, K S Tan, T W Ooi, Y T R Medicine (General) RZ Other systems of medicine INTRODUCTION In a multiethnic nation, it is not uncommon for doctors to encounter patients of different cultural backgrounds. Often, patients' cultural beliefs influence their perception of health and illnesses, and their treatment option. Many Chinese cultural beliefs are influenced by the Taoist concept of yin-yang balance. METHODS We interviewed 50 Malaysian Chinese from the general public of a suburban population in order to unravel the impact of Chinese cultural health beliefs on their decision-making, and this was compared with the opinions of 50 Chinese medical students from second to final year. Convenience sampling was then applied. RESULTS From the survey, 78 percent of the general public believed that 'too much heat' or 'too much coldness' in the body could cause diseases. Compared to the medical students, a significantly higher number of the respondents held such beliefs, including the beliefs that abdominal colic is due to excessive 'wind' in the abdomen, consuming certain food can dispel wind from the body, and the importance of observing taboos during the confinement period after delivery. The majority of respondents from both groups believed that it is acceptable to combine both traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine. CONCLUSION There is a discrepancy in the extent to which these beliefs influence the perception of health and illnesses among the general public and among medical students. Healthcare providers need to be aware of such beliefs and practices regarding traditional Chinese medicine among their Chinese patients. 2011-04 E-Article PeerReviewed text en http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11659/1/5204a2.pdf Chew, K S and Tan, T W and Ooi, Y T (2011) Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey. Singapore medical journal, 52 (4). pp. 252-6. ISSN 0037-5675 http://smj.sma.org.sg/
institution Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
building Centre for Academic Information Services (CAIS)
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
content_source UNIMAS Institutional Repository
url_provider http://ir.unimas.my/
language English
topic R Medicine (General)
RZ Other systems of medicine
spellingShingle R Medicine (General)
RZ Other systems of medicine
Chew, K S
Tan, T W
Ooi, Y T
Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey.
description INTRODUCTION In a multiethnic nation, it is not uncommon for doctors to encounter patients of different cultural backgrounds. Often, patients' cultural beliefs influence their perception of health and illnesses, and their treatment option. Many Chinese cultural beliefs are influenced by the Taoist concept of yin-yang balance. METHODS We interviewed 50 Malaysian Chinese from the general public of a suburban population in order to unravel the impact of Chinese cultural health beliefs on their decision-making, and this was compared with the opinions of 50 Chinese medical students from second to final year. Convenience sampling was then applied. RESULTS From the survey, 78 percent of the general public believed that 'too much heat' or 'too much coldness' in the body could cause diseases. Compared to the medical students, a significantly higher number of the respondents held such beliefs, including the beliefs that abdominal colic is due to excessive 'wind' in the abdomen, consuming certain food can dispel wind from the body, and the importance of observing taboos during the confinement period after delivery. The majority of respondents from both groups believed that it is acceptable to combine both traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine. CONCLUSION There is a discrepancy in the extent to which these beliefs influence the perception of health and illnesses among the general public and among medical students. Healthcare providers need to be aware of such beliefs and practices regarding traditional Chinese medicine among their Chinese patients.
format E-Article
author Chew, K S
Tan, T W
Ooi, Y T
author_facet Chew, K S
Tan, T W
Ooi, Y T
author_sort Chew, K S
title Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey.
title_short Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey.
title_full Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey.
title_fullStr Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey.
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Chinese cultural health beliefs among Malaysian Chinese in a suburban population: a survey.
title_sort influence of chinese cultural health beliefs among malaysian chinese in a suburban population: a survey.
publishDate 2011
url http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11659/1/5204a2.pdf
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11659/
http://smj.sma.org.sg/
_version_ 1644511262206328832
score 13.211869

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