Student # 822664991

Reflective Practice: Exploring Health Beliefs and Determinants of Health

Student: Tanesha Smith
Student ID: 822 664 991
Date Submitted: October 11, 2013
NURS160: Practical Nursing Theory 1
Professor: Mary McGrory
Humber College ITAL

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Health practices, beliefs and the determinants of health are similar amongst cultures and
those of different social and economic status. Cultural beliefs can sometimes influence peoples
personal health practices but may not necessarily have any bearing on their professional duties as
educated healthcare practitioners (i.e. Practical Nurse). A persons economic status may
determine their health in terms of access to healthcare. Without the means to access healthcare
some people tend to turn to cultural beliefs and put into practice home remedies such as natural
herbs, as well as, self- diagnose and self-prescribe treatment for flu, headache, joint and muscle
pains. The same is true regarding a persons social status. For example, if one has lower income
they're not able to access the kind of healthcare that others with the financial means can access
when needed.
My definition of health falls under three main facts that determine good health such as
physical, social, and mental health. To maintain my physical health I would need good nutrition
and access to community care centres such as a hospital or clinic and live in a clean and safe
environment. This best fits with health services and physical environment of the determinants of
health. According to Potter, Ross-kerr (Potter 9), Quality and accessible primary care, hospital
care, long-term care, home care, and public health services are therefore important. If ones
physical environment is at high-risk of pollution the risk factors would be, according to Potter,
Ross-Kerr (Potter 8), Contaminants in air, water, food, and soil also adversely affect health,
sometimes contributing to cancer, birth defects, respiratory illness, and gastrointestinal
ailments. With my mental and social health, I would maintain an active social life. I would
have my memories of the past and continue to create new memories with family and friends. I
would be cognitive and have self-awareness that gives me the ability to make my own choices in
terms of where I choose to live and how I choose to spend my own money -- this would give me

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freedom of choice and self-determination. I would less likely suffer from depression due to
isolation or any mental impairment, like social anxiety, given my overall good health. This best
fits with the social support network of the determinants of health for the following reasons,
according to Potter, Ross-Kerr (Potter 7),A strong body of research links social support with
positive health outcomes (Carpiano, 2007; Richmond et al., 2007; Tomaka et al., 2006); whereas
social isolation, exclusion, and lack of supportive relationships increase stress and vulnerability
to disease directly, as well as indirectly through increased risk behaviours such as smoking,
substance abuse, and overeating.
My current health belief is in following doctors orders and taking modern day medicine
for the common cold flu and getting a prescription, like penicillin, for bacteria that my bodys
natural defenses cannot fight fast enough. I would listen to my doctors advice and referral to a
specialist for chronic headaches, as well as, purchasing FDA approved joint and muscle pain
relievers, as oppose to relying solely on cultural remedies. However, like half the people in this
country, I am skeptical of taking annual flu vaccinations. My skepticism is not borne out of
paranoia but rather other peoples experience. Everyone that I know who has taken the flu
vaccination has gotten really sick from it right away and advised against taking it. The two
determinants of health that influence my personal health practice are culture and education. My
cultural health beliefs and practices conflict with my education of modern day medicinal
treatments for disease like diabetes and for illness such as influenza. In my culture, when a
person has a flu green tea is given several times a day and a persons forehead is wrap with a
warm or cold cloth to keep the persons body temperature balance depending on if they have a
feverish symptom or if they have the chills. For diabetes, naturopathic medicines such as herbs
and bushes from traditional beliefs and practices handed down from generation to generation. As

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a young person born into modern society and educated in modern society I am more opt to rely
on modern medicine because they are more safe and effective.
My cultural beliefs can affect my health negatively if I rely on it solely and not seek
medical attention to treat major illnesses. Cultural health beliefs do not have clinical assessments
by means of technology but rather folk beliefs through prayer and archaic practices that may be
detrimental to my health. Some of my cultural health practices may appear to treat the visible
symptoms but misses the underlying health issues which make the practice unreliable. In
essence, it could make matters worse due to prolonged absence from seeing a modern day doctor
to diagnose my health problems. The herbs and bushes may conflict with my doctor prescribed
medication which ultimately may prolong my symptom and/or turn my illness from a state of
treatable to untreatable because of a lack of proper medical intervention. Cultural beliefs may
have a lack of in dept understanding of illnesses which can lead to adverse effects causing more
damage. However, I would not completely dismiss every aspect of my cultures health beliefs as
some practices for non-life threatening infections, such as pink-eye can be treated with
naturopathic medicines like sea salt water.
The strategies I would use to improve my personal health practices are: Visit my doctor
on a regular basis as well as eat healthy, exercise regularly and maintain a social life. The
aforementioned practices are guidelines that would keep me healthy and prolong longevity as a
healthy person.
In comparing and contrasting my health beliefs with a person from Nigeria, Africa the
following contrast and comparisons are: In Nigeria, people use a lot of traditional herbal and
spiritual medication said the Nigerian woman interviewed in this research. I belief in scientific

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alternative and spiritual medicinedoctors only touch physical diagnosis. Spiritual medicines,
such as praying, build my faith and that way even without drug medication, psychologically I
could be fixed. We rely on alternative medicines such as herbs, tree roots, tree barks and root
juice for healing (T.F, personal communication, October 1, 2013). Similarly in my Jamaican
culture we rely on spiritual healing along with traditional and modern medicine to treat our
illnesses. Social status plays a role in determining our health: I was lucky to have a mother who
had knowledge of the alternative medicines because we, like most Nigerians, could not afford
scientific (modern) medicine. Nigerians use traditional and ritual (spiritual) medication. Social
status does play a role because if you dont have money to buy drugs you have to look for
alternatives (T.F, personal communication, October 1, 2013). Similarly, in Jamaica most of the
population live below the poverty line and therefore must rely on traditional herbs as they cannot
afford the high cost of modern medicine. Most Nigerians and Jamaicans like to go to school;
however, the majority of the populations are still uneducated which affects their knowledge of
modern drugs. They still rely on alternatives and religious medication more. Moreover, if
youre educated you can read the medication side-effects and decide if you want to take that
medication. When the people cannot read theyll accept any [modern] medication you give them
to treat their illness. Education has less of an impact than affordability its more of an
economical issue poverty makes people seek traditional ways rather than scientific [modern]
medication (T.F, personal communication, October 1, 2013). Similarly, Jamaicans with less
financial means depend on traditional medicines because that is how they were home-schooled
due to a lack of monetary means.
My nursing practice would respect the cultural beliefs of all my patients. The influence
to my practice would be to have a greater understanding when treating patients of different

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cultures. I now know that not everyones beliefs are the same and as a nurse you have to respect
patients rights and develop cultural sensitivity. This will allow me to have a better understanding
of how to interact with patients of different cultures. Given the knowledge I have taken from this
interview and this overall process, as well as, my personal health and cultural beliefs I would
make it a practice to ask my patients what they have been using to treat their illness. I would
mention naturopathic medications like herbs as an example of what I am referring to when I ask
them what traditional treatments, if any, they are using. In this research it became apparent that
peoples faith in a higher power also impacts their faith in healing and thus explains why
traditional medication will continue to be an important part of their treatment; and physical and
emotional well-being. It is important as a nurse to not force our own believes and practices onto
our patients as this may lead to conflict between the patient and the practitioner. And as a result
the patient may not accept treatment. It is also important not to disregard a patients selfdiagnosis as they sometimes know more about whats ailing them at that moment. It will help
speed up the diagnosis and recovery if the patient is involved with their treatment.
In conclusion, the determinants of health such as Culture, Education and Social Status are
influenced by peoples cultural background and health practices. Even though modern day
medicine is very beneficial to peoples health they still turn to their cultures health practices for
minor illnesses instead of relying on doctor prescribed medication due to their social status. The
importance of education allows people to broaden their knowledge and make informed decisions
about their treatment and educate them on their diagnosis. As a nurse it is important to
understand and respect patients cultural beliefs and practices in regards to treating and
communicating with them.

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REFERENCE
(Potter 9) Potter, Perry, Ross-Kerr, et al. Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing, 5th Edition.
Mosby Canada, 2014. VitalBook file.
(Potter 8) Potter, Perry, Ross-Kerr, et al. Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing, 5th Edition.
Mosby Canada, 2014. VitalBook file.
(Potter 7) Potter, Perry, Ross-Kerr, et al. Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing, 5th Edition.
Mosby Canada, 2014. VitalBook file.