Date of Award

Fall 1986

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Fitzgerald Miller, Judith

Second Advisor

Wilson, Sarah

Abstract

Pain occurs in a totally integrated human being who has had a variety of physical, emotional, and intellectual life experiences. It is not surprising, then, that different people respond to pain in different ways. As knowledge concerning the factors influencing differences in response to pain increases, one must not fail to include the impact of the cultural factor which has been called the "third dimension" of health care. Culture constrains and regulates daily behavior, values, and attitudes in many obvious ways. The importance of recognizing cultural influences on a person's pain response has relevance for the professional nurse who works in either hospital or,community settings; as well as for nurses, educators, or administrators. Recognition of cultural influences offers many clues to understanding the behavior of groups of patients in their responses to pain. Knowledge of a wide variety of cultural expectations with respect to pain can also assist nurses in appreciating that the way they Learned to respond to pain may not only be different from but quite opposite from what others have learned. When professional nurses are able to identify an individual's cultural beliefs and values, and recognize their own responses, they will be able to provide care that is congruent with the patients' expectations, and foster recovery. This essay describes the concepts related to culture, cultural diversity and pain, the significance of cultural influences on pain, and influences of ethnicity on health practices and pain responses of Mexican, black and Chinese- Americans. The studies related to inferences of nurses in cross-cultural situations are reviewed. Recommendations for nursing practice, education and research are also proposed.

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