How to find an approach to such patients can be read in a guide titled "Patient from a Different Culture." Polskie Radio interviews its co-author Andrzej Guzowski, a lecturer at the Medical University of Białystok.
– Where did the idea to write the book "Patient from a Different Culture" come from, and who is it intended for?
– This textbook is intended for healthcare workers, especially nurses who work in hospitals and reception departments. The idea to write this book arose for various reasons. The first and most important is that such an ethical guide taking into account the patient's expectations and philosophy had not existed on the publishing market until now. Consequently, it was difficult to teach subjects related to multiculturalism in medicine at higher education institutions. That is why we decided, using our experience, to publish such a textbook.
– How often have you dealt with patients from a different culture, different religion?
– Very often. In our region, Podlasie, there is a large concentration of Orthodox and Eastern populations, including Belarusians, Russians, and Ukrainians. We live near the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, which can be called the Orthodox heart of the region. There is also a large number of Tatars who practice Islam and have lived in the region for hundreds of years, Lithuanians in the north, many Chechens. You can only imagine what a mix it is. We have repeatedly observed cultural differences, sometimes very sharp, including in hospitals. It turned out that the language barrier is not the only obstacle.
– What other problems were there?
– It was misunderstanding and cultural barriers. When Chechen children were in the pediatric ward in Białystok, their mothers never left them for a second, which disrupted certain discipline. When quiet and rest were needed, there was always someone in the room. Besides mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, and other relatives constantly visited. All because such care and concern is customary in that cultural environment. And yet, some hospital staff might not know that. Moreover, all these visitors constantly brought their own food. The thing is, most hospitals do not serve beef, while people practicing Islam do not eat pork.
– This is a very prosaic case, and at the same time, paying attention to such aspects is very important.
– Of course. This includes halal and kosher food. Because there is "clean" food and "unclean" food that Jews will not eat. Of course, food and taboos on certain foods are an important issue, but it is the smallest problem in our case. The psychological aspect is very important. For example, if an Orthodox Jew is in the ward, a young nurse tries to help him get out of bed. An Orthodox Jew will never shake hands with a woman, similar situations occur in Islam. Or the issue of clergy. For example, a nun feels much more comfortable when examined by a female gynecologist rather than a male. Of course, this does not apply to situations where life is at stake.
– What about Jehovah's Witnesses. Is it true that they refuse blood transfusions? How should a doctor act in such a case?
– The patient is an independent person. They have the right to refuse any medical intervention. Jehovah's Witnesses are a separate issue altogether; when a Jehovah's Witness is admitted, the staff just turns pale with fear. Because everyone knows they are categorically against blood transfusions. That is why we invited Jehovah's Witnesses to participate in writing our guide so that they could explain from their side why they do not consent to blood transfusions, what their religious beliefs and philosophical vision on this issue are, what their religion tells them, and why they agree with it. This textbook clearly describes what can and cannot be done with a Jehovah's Witness patient.
– How did the migration crisis affect the writing of the textbook "Patient from a Different Culture"?
– We are observing this problem and understand that we cannot avoid a clash of cultures. Nevertheless, we started writing this textbook even earlier, before the attack on Charlie Hebdo. Therefore, one could say we were guided by something else. We already understood then that Polish society could no longer be called homogeneous, that it is changing and becoming multicultural. In turn, we realize that in this situation, this textbook can be very helpful.