Lecture 5-global health

Question 1

Explain the connection between social factors such as poverty and lack of transportation and one’s health
Poverty-patients with chronic illnesses often only have enough money to buy a few days worth of medication before being discharged from the hospital and are not able to obtain more-therefore?

Answer 1

Therefore, proper treatment and monitoring for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension rarely occurs

Question 2

Exception to the chronic illnesses?

Answer 2

HIV treatment is an exception because medication is provided at a discounted rate by the government and can be transported to remote villages

Question 3

Biggest differences between american and foreign healthcare?

Answer 3

• Provincial hospitals are supposed to accept poor people but often don’t
• Few performance standards for practitioners
• Unreliable documentation
• detached attitude toward relieving pain
• Poor medical tools/supplies (syringes, etc)

Question 4

Compare the level of importance placed on patient autonomy in the U.S. to other cultures and countries

Answer 4

• Depends on what part of the world you are in
• In some religions the eldest male or female makes the decisions for the family
• Talk to local doctors and ask them how to approach situations
• Ask the patient who makes healthcare decisions for them and try to respect their wishes

Question 5

Compare the level of importance placed on patient autonomy in the U.S. to other cultures and countries
-When communicating with a patient through a translator?

Answer 5

• Make sure the translator is translating what the patient actually said (body language) and they are not making assumptions or decisions for the patient
• Try to minimize things getting lost in translation when going from patient to translator to physician

Question 6

Explain the ethical concerns that arise in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV and tuberculosis

Answer 6

• Medicines for these diseases are expensive and patients often can’t afford them
• Pharmaceutical companies worked out deals with the governments to provide the medicines for a discounted price
• Very important to educate the patient so they understand why they are taking the medicine and why it is important to take the medicine as prescribed

Question 7

Explain the connection between social factors such as poverty and lack of transportation and one’s health

Answer 7

Major factors in global healthcare
Transportation-most people don’t have a car, other options are dangerous, often crowded
Poverty-patients with chronic illnesses often only have enough money to buy a few days worth of medication before being discharged from the hospital and are not able to obtain more