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    Medical Pluralism LG

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    mohammadsayfoo
    This document discusses medical pluralism, which refers to people using multiple medical systems and treatments. It notes that within the UK, people frequently use both the NHS and complementary and alternative medicines. The document also highlights that migrants often use treatments from their home countries as well as the UK. It provides several quotes from migrants discussing their preferences for stronger medications from their home countries over the "weak" treatments often prescribed in the UK. Overall, the summary emphasizes that many migrants access different medical systems simultaneously based on factors like cost, access, and cultural understandings of health.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Medical Pluralism LG

    Uploaded by

    mohammadsayfoo
    10 views10 pages
    This document discusses medical pluralism, which refers to people using multiple medical systems and treatments. It notes that within the UK, people frequently use both the NHS and complementary and alternative medicines. The document also highlights that migrants often use treatments from their home countries as well as the UK. It provides several quotes from migrants discussing their preferences for stronger medications from their home countries over the "weak" treatments often prescribed in the UK. Overall, the summary emphasizes that many migrants access different medical systems simultaneously based on factors like cost, access, and cultural understandings of health.

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    Medical pluralism

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    medical-pluralism-LG

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    This document discusses medical pluralism, which refers to people using multiple medical systems and treatments. It notes that within the UK, people frequently use both the NHS and complementary and alternative medicines. The document also highlights that migrants often use treatments from their home countries as well as the UK. It provides several quotes from migrants discussing their preferences for stronger medications from their home countries over the "weak" treatments often prescribed in the UK. Overall, the summary emphasizes that many migrants access different medical systems simultaneously based on factors like cost, access, and cultural understandings of health.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    10 views10 pages

    Medical Pluralism LG

    Uploaded by

    mohammadsayfoo
    This document discusses medical pluralism, which refers to people using multiple medical systems and treatments. It notes that within the UK, people frequently use both the NHS and complementary and alternative medicines. The document also highlights that migrants often use treatments from their home countries as well as the UK. It provides several quotes from migrants discussing their preferences for stronger medications from their home countries over the "weak" treatments often prescribed in the UK. Overall, the summary emphasizes that many migrants access different medical systems simultaneously based on factors like cost, access, and cultural understandings of health.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 10

    Medical pluralism – what

    health behaviours do people


    have and why does it matter?

    Laura Griffith. IRiS and HSMC


    What is medical pluralism?
     It is the adoption of more than one medical
    system in terms of health beliefs, behaviours
    or treatments
     Within the UK many different systems of
    medicines operate, e.g. NHS biomedicine
    and CAMs and people frequently travel
    abroad i.e. dental treatments
     However, many migrants and others use
    treatments and advice from many countries
    and systems of medicine
    What is a system of medicine?

     We all adapt, adopt and modify elements of


    biomedicine – do you ever modify your GPs
    advice? Game the system?
     Traditional knowledge, friends and peers, old
    doctors, google, particular foods, routines,
    relatives, previous experiences of “what
    worked”
    Why does it matter? Some examples
    “Here I don’t buy medication. Even a syrup for a cold I ask them to bring it for my
    child from Iran. I don’t believe In their medicines here.”

    “because in Iran our bodies were stronger and we became ill very rarely, and when
    we became ill we were treated very fast. But here we are not used to these weak
    medications our bodies need strong medication, Penicillin or Amoxicillin, things that
    are strong and dry up the infection fast. In the past year I have constantly been ill,
    even now I have a cold. My son and I constantly have a cold”

    “I am saying because the medication here have no effect on us. I mean the
    medication here is very weak. The doctors don’t really deliver a good health service
    to you. The thing we do receive a lot of is respect and empathy and that it is free.
    There have been a lot of times when my son and I have been ill but we haven’t gone
    to the GP because we don’t get anything from him.”
    “I have a cupboard full of medication like a pharmacy because they have sent me so
    much medication from Iran”
    Using from here and back home
     Trust doctors they know from back home. Others value the NHS more
     Source medication quickly and effectively
     In the UK the system can be confusing, prefer one they know. e.g I must
    admit I’m quite confused with the NHS. So I wouldn’t know what to do first.
    Whether to go to GP first and then go to gynaecologist? or whether I go to
    genealogist and pay a lot of money? I have no idea; I do that when I’m in
    Poland.
     Regular visits and communication, often via family members and skype
     Visits for certain services based on cost, relationships and experience i.e.
    dental, gynaecological
     Pragmatic decisions based on research: if you are ill then you can conduct
    research as to where you will get the best treatment – and then
    subsequently go there for that treatment, whichever country it is [India] In
    the UK I don’t have to worry about cannot see the doctor if I don’t have
    money [China]
     Speed of access back home – no waiting times but it costs!!
    Give me a stronger dose
     Many participants talked about “weak medicines”
    I: Well I have no way, I can’t just buy antibiotics, and many times when I have gone
    to the GP and he just tells me well you have cold and that medication every one
    jokes about been given for every thing here, what is it called Para ...?
    R: Oh Paracetamol?
    I: (He laughs) yes yes Paracetamol that’s the one. They give you this for everything.
    You say my head, leg, stomach or anything is hurting they give you Paracetamol. It
    has become a joke amongst us.[Iran]
    all my mates go to private Polish doctor, because doctors here don’t prescribe
    medication, just Paracetamol for everything. [Poland]
    Ok, what needs to be improved is that doctors should have enough time to discuss
    illness with patients. When you go to the surgery the doctor will see you only for one
    illness and only for a short time. If you tell him/her that you have headache, he/she
    will ask you to buy paracetamol over the counter. And if I ask them to prescribe
    antibiotics for instance if I have cough, or chest pain, they will not give it to you,
    instead they will say it is not good for your health. That is what needs to be
    improved, but otherwise, everything else is very good. [Zimbabwee]
    Friends and family
     Whilst some relied on friends for medication and accessing appointments,
    others rarely discussed illness: I rarely talk to my parents [in China] about this
    kind of things, don't want them to worry about me. Because both of my parents
    have high blood pressure, I do not want to frighten them. I only have small
    issues; there is no need to scare them. They are now old and not physically very
    strong.
     I do talk about health a lot. I think Poles are famous for that. Complaints about
    health are the main conversation topic. I speak with all my friend about health,
    here and in Poland. But all my friends here are Polish, I don’t speak English
    good enough to have a conversation yet
     Common understandings of good health amongst friends and family: i.e.
    exercise, limiting alcohol, fruit and vegetables
    Cultural beliefs and home remedies
     Mixed appreciation for folk medical models – some regarded as
    superstition other methods are employed.
    Everything his mother would say I would say oh your mother is so
    superstitious, what things she talk about … but now I really do things and
    say yes they have an answer, they have an impact. Nutrition is very
    effective during illness, when you become ill. [Iran]
    my dad doesn’t like for us to take home-remedies. He thinks we should go
    to the doctor. [Pakistan]
     Different attitudes to mental distress?
    I think people in UK are more aware of psychological disorders and
    illnesses, and it my country it is something that is still not there yet, do you
    know what I mean. [Poland]
     Dependent on the degree of distress – to alleviate symptoms or to treat
    colds
     Includes religious beliefs, hot/cold foods/ homes remedies
    Pragmatism?
     Mom sort of knew local herbs that help to
    treat certain illnesses that are common to us
    and that would be the first point. She would
    probably get some herbs out and mix them to
    produce a concoction. We would then have it
    for two or three days and if there aren’t any
    changes then we would go to the hospital.
    That was another way of saving money
    because hospital doesn’t come cheap.
    [Cameroon]
    So what?
     People are accessing different medical systems and
    treatments at the same time – often driven by cost
    and access
     The medical system (of referrals, of watchful waiting)
    isn’t understood or utilised well
     There are common understandings of health
    amongst friends and family
     New migrants present at frontline services with
    serious problems and feel they are not heard and
    given paracetamol

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