How Pain Is Addressed In And Chinese And Canadian Culture

Introduction

Canada is a diverse country that allows individuals to express their values and beliefs freely. Culture means something different to everyone, everyone has a unique set of customs and practices that they choose to lead their lives with. The topic of pain is an important meaning in the healthcare field; it dictates the actions that are implemented in a patient’s health care plan and allows for a better understanding of the patient’s overall health. To achieve the best understanding and communication of a patient’s needs and concerns, there must be an open and honest discussion between the healthcare provider and the patient. However, there can be barriers to this discussion; the difference in the culture of a patient and a health care provider affects the approach of communication that is used. When viewing the Chinese culture, it is evident that the perspective taken of the meaning of pain requires the practice of providing culturally sensitive care.

Cultural Diversity

To start, the Chinese culture’s view of the topic of pain is largely based by societal influences and spiritual beliefs; these views of pain are formed by common beliefs of: Stoicism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Stoicism is a way of life that is deemed beneficial, where an individual does not display any emotion/reaction during times of satisfaction or pain. Those that practice Stoicism may be experiencing pain yet deny that it exists until facing an unbearable amount of pain, thus, displaying great amounts of pain tolerance while being cared for in the healthcare setting.

Confucianism is a philosophical belief of how a happy and fulfilling life can be attained; indicating that respect for family, friends, and self will achieve this goal. Confucians believe that pain is a feeling that reminds individuals of their humanity; when a family member experiences pain, their family plays a role in collectively carrying the pain along with their family member. However, the individual’s pain is not addressed outside of the family circle, as this is considered a period in one’s life where great pain is experienced, which may be viewed as a “trial”, and is therefore held in high regards of meaning and experience. Hence, an individual that experiences pain will hesitate to communicate this to a healthcare professional and may choose to tell a family member that will then speak to a healthcare provider on behalf of them.

Buddhists practice a system of beliefs on pain where, “If a person experiences pain calmly, without becoming emotionally distressed, he or she can attain greater states of being”. Pain is viewed as a natural part of life and should be tolerated. Also, Chinese Buddhists may believe in karma, where their pain is a result of bad actions that they had previously committed, thus, choosing not to take any form of pain treatment. These cultural influences dictate the kind of life that a Chinese individual chooses to live, the impact that it can make while in the hospital setting needs to be addressed as to better serve and care for these individuals. All in all, the three ways of life and practice in Chinese culture are Stoicism, Confucianism and Buddhism; all impact the decision-making process of how an individual may address their pain experience in the healthcare setting.

Cultural Competence

Next, the ability to communicate, understand and respect others despite cultural differences is a goal that a health care provider should be expected to practice. However, there can be barriers that deter this process from occurring; ethnocentrism and stereotyping causes tension in a relationship between a healthcare provider and a patient, and over time is detrimental in the kind of care that a patient receives. By understanding how this kind of destructive thinking can be faced; it allows for an atmosphere of professional care and cultural sensitivity to patients.

Ethnocentrism is defined as a belief that one’s way of living when adhering to their culture is superior in comparison to others’ way of life. Ethnocentrism affects the way that a healthcare provider may interact and communicate with their patient. The treatment that a patient receives may be biased, disrespectful or patronizing. This kind of negative attitude that a worker gives off to the patient causes a non-therapeutic relationship; therefore, impacting the quality of care and treatment that a patient is provided.

Stereotyping within the healthcare field is defined as judging and/or holding false views about a patient based on general assumptions about their culture and overall way of life. Stereotyping may lead to a poor quality of treatment, being held at an unequal standard, and even a denial of care. Those that are stereotyped with a certain prejudice may have a healthcare worker that causes frustration, tension and unease during their time in the healthcare setting. These kinds of experiences that a patient may have will deter them to seek treatment from healthcare professionals in the future; in fear/expectancy that the same kind of judgment and treatment will occur again. To address these challenges, it is important that workers realize their bias and stereotypes; and work towards providing culturally sensitive care.

Acknowledging the issues that come along with ethnocentrism and stereotyping helps to foster a healthy work environment that is fair and just towards patients. All people have some sort of bias, rather than ignore this; it is necessary to understand one’s own thoughts and beliefs, and how it is different from other cultures around them. By doing so, one acknowledges that it is okay that there are differences of values and beliefs, and that all people are entitled to live and follow their lives the way that they choose, and feel is best. To completely wipe away all differences of individuals is wrong; rather, realizing that there are unique qualities found in each patient, and that individuality is what holds a patient to be respected and valued for who they are. When a health care professional encounters a patient that has a different culture and system of beliefs; it is vital that the healthcare professional becomes educated of the culture of the patient. Understanding how and why a patient chooses their kind of treatment plan allows for trust and compassion to be created. This act of empathy will be translated into the kind of environment and care that a patient receives. The goal of a healthcare professional is to put their patient in a place of ease and comfort, to guide their patient into a state of well-being.

Having an open mind to other cultures is vital when treating patients that come from different places and follow a different set of beliefs. It is important to empathize with a patient and understand why they may choose to think or act a certain way, based on the culture that they had grown up with. For example, when a patient that is of a Chinese cultural background makes choices about their treatment plan surrounding their beliefs of pain; I am now able to have a general understanding of why they may make certain choices and therefore, I am able to comprehend how I can help them work towards wellness while keeping their beliefs alongside in the decision-making process. I believe that my own perceptions regarding the topic of pain that is viewed by the Chinese culture will influence how I support my client. I was born in Canada and have been influenced by the Western culture in terms of the perception of pain while in the healthcare setting.

The opinion of how pain is addressed in Canadian culture is different from that of the Chinese culture’s view of pain. In Canada, it is typical that pain is something to be openly spoken about. In a hospital care setting, when one is in pain, one is vocal about their pain, and is clear to state that they need more care and attention to help them feel better. This differs to that of the Chinese culture, where I now understand that pain is a topic that is kept private to the individual or close family members; thus, individuals are less likely to be open to a healthcare provider of the pain that they feel. While I personally believe that the more open one is about their level of pain while in the healthcare setting, the better their experience will be; this does not mean that my opinion is superior to that of the Chinese culture’s perspective, nor does it make the Chinese culture’s perspective less right overall. All in all, everyone is entitled to make choices and act to what they feel is best for them; and understanding that one’s culture has a major influence in this allows for more understanding and an improvement in medical care.

Conclusion

In closing, providing culturally sensitive care is vital when addressing the cultural differences that a health care provider has in comparison to a patient. When examining the Chinese culture, it is evident that the common practices of Stoicism, Confucianism and Buddhism impact their views on pain. Pain viewed in Chinese culture is one where it is spoken of more privately and is seen as a powerful experience in one’s life that can determine their mindset and overall how they choose to lead their lives. By understanding and becoming educated of the differences of one culture to another; and how this plays a role in the kind of care that one receives medically, allows for an open and honest discussion between the health care provider and patient. Therefore, health practitioners should make every effort to be inclusive in their position to provide the best possible care for a patient.