PSY 8307 Week 6 Stoll, E

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Ethnocultural Issues and Managing Pain Emily Chester Stoll PSY 8307 Week 6 February 27, 2022
Pain can be described as any physical suffering one endures due to injury or illness and even stress. Pain that is derived from an injury is often more easily diagnosed. For example, if someone falls and hurts their hip, the pain from the hip can pinpointed. However, different culture’s view pain in different ways. Some cultures are more stoic in their response to pain, keeping to themselves and informing no one. Pain can manifest due to a myriad of things. Grief from the loss of a loved one could manifest into pain. As many ways that pain can appear, there are ample ways of coping and interventions available. Self-preservation becomes instrumental in how one chooses to deal with their pain management. Educating different clients in different communities, “health professionals can teach clients the adaptive role of the stress response to episodic stressors and the detrimental physical and psychological effects caused by chronic long- term stress” that could lead to physical or mental pain (Collins, et al., 2003, p. 169). Common physical pain is often a part of life. Some deal with migraines due to stress. Some suffer from recurring aches from previous injuries. The concept of pain management is perceived differently by each individual. In an attempt to create a way for each individual to convey their pain, Wong and Baker created a face pain scale. This is a 0-10 scale using face drawings to determine the level of pain being experienced. Initially intended to understand the pain in children, this scale is still widely used for patients of all ages (Wong & Baker, 1988). Having this tool can help health care professionals understand their patients’ perception of their pain. However, when looking at different cultures, what an individual will share with their family and health care provider can vary. For example, women suffering from endometriosis (ED) suffer from chronic pain. It is an illness that affects every ethnicity globally, and there is no cure. When looking specifically at women with endometriosis, their pain is a daily concern. Some ethnic groups avoid seeking help
because it is thought that a woman’s menstruation is part of being a woman. In many cultures, it is expected for women to endure it without complaints as a natural part of life. “A person’s culture determines how pain is perceived, experienced and communicated” (Peacock & Patel, 2008, p. 6). ED does not have a specific pathology. Why it effects an estimated 10% of the global population has not been firmly established. How these women from different cultures endure the pain varies. Furthermore, how different cultures cope with pain and the management of is broad. Psychologists remain aware that different ethnicities may present different responses and stressors to everyday life. It is to be noted that endometriosis is more common in Caucasian and Asian American women than their counterparts. Despite different ethnicities and geographical locations, most women have reported feeling some sort of stigma when disclosing their endometriosis. “Understanding coping behaviors over time can help researchers and practitioners implement programs to improve coping efficiency and adjustment” with their patients (Heffer & Willoughby, 2017, p. 12). Positive and negative coping strategies can be seen in all populations. “Ethnic diversity means clinicians are regularly required to meet the needs of people from different cultures and offer culturally relevant health care” (Peacock and Patel, 2008, p. 6). Peacock and Patel (2008) present an interesting study showing that those who have the same pain reports, despite being raised in other cultures, often experience acculturation which is defined as someone “who migrates from the country of birth, adopts the values, beliefs, cultures and lifestyles of the country to with they emigrate” (Peacock and Patel, 2008, p. 6). The role of culture in chronic pain should analyzed and taken into account with health care professionals because the patient’s pain can directly affect their ability to maintain a steady home and social life. Constant physical pain leads to a negative impact on the ability to work,
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