Korean
Cultural Values. The Asian groups most encountered at CHLA are the Koreans and the Chinese. The Korean population, in general, displays conservative body language with friends, and distant and formal body language with strangers. There is great respect toward elders and others that are perceived as authority figures. Most Koreans will have strong eye contact with friends but not with elders or those in positions of authority.
In many families, bad news is told to the head of the father’s family, not the patient. Alternatively, the family might not want to know the diagnosis, because they do not want to give up hope. Life is a blessing and death prior to old age is considered misfortune.
Health related belief systems. Good health is very important and often a sign of success. Wellness is maintained by eating "good food," a balanced diet including red meat, and walks are taken as a form of exercise. Koreans try to take care of themselves by taking hanyak (herbal medicine) and ginseng before seeing a doctor. Healers as well as chanting may be incorporated into medical care.
While receiving treatment, many Koreans appear to complain due to anxiety level. They consider IV fluid more therapeutic than food, and prefer warm or hot fluids rather than cold ones.
Learning Module text written by Eyal Ben-Isaac
Sources:
1. Tylor 1924 [orig. 1871]
2. The culturally competent pediatrician: Respecting ethnicity in your practice. Lori Taylor, MD, and Lindia J. Willies-Jacobo, MD. Contemporary Pediatrics, June 2003
3. Mexican Cultural profile. Ethnomed, Ethnic medicine information from Harborview
4. Culture Clues: Communicating with your African American Patient. University of Washington Medical Center, Patient and Family Education Services. 2001
5. Los Angeles County Census 2000
6. Culture and Nursing Care, A Pocket Guide. Juliene G. Lipson, Suzanne L. Dibble, and Pamela A. Minarik. School of Nursing, UCSF. University of California, San Francisco, Press.
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