Cultural Backgrounds:Muslim

Cultural Backgrounds:Muslim

The patient involved is a Muslim whose cultural and religious belief is that her hijab cannot be removed in front of anyone apart from her husband. However, in this video, Nadira Ansari can only remove it in front of a female doctor (Dr Smyth) who has been attending, but Dr Calley was in charge, given that Dr Smyth was out of the facility. Dr Calley was insensitive to cultural and religious beliefs and left the patient. Muslims perceive health and illness in Western countries are not sensitive about their cultural and religious beliefs. Health care professionals must be responsive when attending Muslim patients, especially females. A healthcare worker and a patient of the opposite gender should avoid physical and direct eye contact between them. Male doctors can communicate with female patients through their spouse because this will not be offensive if there is no female doctor. For physical examination, the healthcare worker must be of the same sex. However, sometimes it is not possible to have same-sex healthcare workers and patients; hence, a third person of the same gender with the patient must be present. The healthcare worker should inform the patient that part of the clothing, for example, hijab, has to be removed but has to be returned immediately after the examination.

Question 2

The challenges that Muslims go through is an overarching issue that affects Muslim ethics. The overarching issue presented in the video is how the healthcare workers must be sensitive about the religious and cultural beliefs of different patients, especially from the Muslim community. Muslim patients should be respected, and their cultural and religious beliefs adhered to always. Muslim women are supposed to cover up their bodies when in a company of non-mahram males or not related by blood. Also, the etiquette of the health care providers should be checked where they should be tolerant and patient rather than not understanding the patient’s demands. The health care provider and the patient have to discuss pertinent issues if there are cultural or religious differences that must be adhered to before attending the patient.

Question 3

The issue of cultural and religious differences affecting the Muslims can be overcome where the healthcare workers must be made aware to appreciate the different patient’s backgrounds. The health care providers need to accommodate patients with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds even if they come from the minority community, tribe, or religion. Also, training on healthcare beliefs and cultural competence should be the focus of the healthcare system program to help reduces conflicts when one encounter patients of different cultural and religious background. Basic knowledge of cultural and spiritual awareness and skills must be formulated to help healthcare providers be prepared when faced with related challenges. Religious and cultural traditions are complex, and it may be difficult to understand how the patient will react to different health-related procedures if the provider does not know these differences in healthcare. The health providers should seek to understand if there is any pertinent religious or cultural issue when seeking treatment at the health facility.

Question 4

When practising as a nurse, an issue arises when prescribing drugs or medication to a Muslim patient. Besides, magnesium stearate is not allowed to take tablets that were extracted from animal sources. Culturally, Muslims are not given drugs containing alcohol, pork, or gelatin because they are forbidden. Patients from other cultural backgrounds are not prohibited from any form of medications, unlike Muslims. To overcome this issue, I had the knowledge about what the Muslims are forbidden, so I explained to the patient that there were no other drugs, and he accepted. If I had given the drugs before informing him, then the patient could have cause drama upon realizing. Islam allows the use of any medications during emergencies but upon explaining to the patients. It is, therefore, vital for any health care professional to be respectful and sensitive to the cultural differences that may cause conflicts and strained relationships between the patient and healthcare worker.