Cultural Health Attributions, Beliefs, and Practices: Effects on Healthcare and Medical Education

Abstract

Health attributions influence health beliefs and subsequent health behaviors. Health attributions are partly shaped by culture. In turn, cultural health attributions affect beliefs about disease, treatment, and health practices. Like- wise, culture influences health and healing practices. Certain cultures have culture-bound syndromes about which medical practitioners should be trained. Other sociocultural factors such as immigration, acculturation, and social support play sig- nificant roles in health attributions and medical adherence. Culturally diverse patient populations require that medical educators learn new methods of cultural assessment and treatment in order to be effective. Medical educators also need teaching and learning approaches and philosophies that consider health attributions, beliefs, and practices of patients.