European Americans are often described as being future
oriented—believing the future will bring happiness. They see change as natural
and positive, leading to improvement and progress—in contrast to some cultures
that may view change as disruptive to their history, traditions, and
continuity. European Americans tend to value practicality and efficiency, and
place importance on promptness. They generally respect equality, fairness, and
gender equity. Americans of European descent have a no-nonsense attitude toward
work—they respect the dignity and intrinsic value of work. Many are identified
by their professions and believe that they will be rewarded based on individual
achievement. They tend to attach significant importance to taking the
initiative, and believe in competition and in the capitalistic philosophy that
free enterprise brings out the best in the individual.
In this population, the nuclear family is respected even
though family members are often separated by distance. With the majority of
mothers working outside the home, children are often cared for in homes or
schools that provide day care.
Diet
The Western Pattern Diet (or Standard American Diet) is
currently followed by many European Americans in Minnesota. The Western diet is
characterized by high consumption of red meat, animal fats, sugary desserts,
highfat salty foods, processed foods, and alcohol. According to the Journal of
Food Composition and Analysis, one-third of daily calories come from fast foods
and other junk foods.
The Western diet is low in fiber, complex carbohydrates,
plant-based foods, vitamins, and minerals, compared to a healthy diet with more
fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, poultry, and fish. Associated with the
Western diet are epidemic obesity and chronic diseases, resulting in illness
and death from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. In the 1800s and
early 1900s when Minnesotans lived a primarily agricultural life, heart attacks
were unheard of. By 1960, heart disease accounted for more than 500,000 deaths
per year nationally. By 2006, heart disease accounted for more than 800,000
deaths per year. On holidays and special occasions, European Americans often
prepare traditional ancestral dishes, such as stollen (German),
lutefisk and
lefse (Scandinavian), and corned beef and cabbage or soda bread (Irish).
Religion
Christianity is the most common religion practiced by
European Americans. Many Christians in The U. S. attend church or Sunday school
regularly and on religious holidays, and many children attend private
Protestant or Catholic schools. Most states also have an active Jewish
population. The remaining 19% of the population practice other religions or
follow no religious traditions.
Medical care
The practices of traditional Western medicine are favored by
most European Americans in the U.S. Western medicine is characterized by
rigorous safety protocols with treatments and medications that must pass a
strict review before they can be used for patient care. Health care providers
use methods developed according to medical and scientific traditions.
Treatments may include medication, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and
physical therapy. Western medicine differs from Eastern medicine in its
approach to treatment. Western medicine’s greatest strength is in trauma care
and therapies for acute problems. Increasing attention is being paid to
preventive medicine to address growing rates of chronic diseases, preventable
cancers, and the epidemic increase in obesity and diseases related to obesity,
such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
The holistic approach of Eastern medicine is increasingly
being incorporated into traditional medical treatment. Illnesses and conditions
are uniquely treated according to the way a particular patient experiences a
disease. For example, patients with fibromyalgia may use meditation or massage
therapy to reduce stress and improve muscle function. Eastern medicine’s
greatest strength is in the area of treating the whole person—mind, body, and
spirit—not just the disease.
End of life
As part of the Western model of health care, families often
use palliative care and hospice care services to manage advanced illness at end
of life. Palliative and hospice care focus on relieving suffering and improving
quality of life by customizing treatment to meet the needs of each individual,
and by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support. Hospice
specializes in care for individuals in the last stages of a terminal illness,
and provides grief support for surviving loved ones. Hospice provides therapies
to relieve pain, teaches care techniques, arranges for necessary equipment such
as a hospital bed or oxygen, and coordinates other services. Hospice services are
provided in the home or at hospice or other health care facilities. At end of
life, individuals may be visited by clergy and prayed for by members of a
religious congregation. Funerals and memorial services may be religious or
non-religious. Traditional burial and cremation are practiced equally by this
population.
Culture in context
Culture is essential in assessing a person’s health and
well-being. Understanding a patient’s practice of cultural norms can allow
providers to quickly build rapport and ensure effective patient-provider
communication. Efforts to reduce health disparities must be holistic,
addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of individuals and
families. Also important is making connections with community members and recognizing
conditions in the community. Get to know your patients on an individual level.
Not all patients from diverse populations conform to commonly known
culture-specific behaviors, beliefs, and actions. Generalizations in this
material may not apply to your patients
Source: www.stratishealth.org
Source: www.stratishealth.org
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