Factors such as ethnicity, genetics, and cultural background are an important example of objective data that has to be collected for an effective treatment of many specific diseases. Hence, in many instances, ethnical, genetic, and cultural considerations play an significant role in prescribing.
A particular disease best illustrates the importance of above-mentioned factors. For example, ethnic variations matter in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension and blood pressure take prevalence among Hispanic patients, which calls for a more rigorous and culturally adjusted treatment model. The studies that accounted for ethnical considerations of patients have established that hat angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers are particularly appropriate to be prescribed to Hispanics because of higher rates of cardiac morbidity. (Patel, Wood & Espino, 2012)
Ethnical, genetic, and cultural factors are a sensitive issue in the nursing practice. They might a particularly difficult issue to deal with in pharmacotherapeutics. Nonetheless, it is absolutely vital to give due account to these factors and communicate with the patients with regard to possible peculiarities of drug use. The need for recognizing the potential issues with drug interaction with culture-specific food or treatment practices is a vivid example. In my nursing practice, I will dedicate the necessary time and effort to explore the patient’s cultural background. In fact, recognizing that cultural diversity exists and can affect the treatment is only the first step. It is also important to be able to adjust the delivery of health care to the cultural background of one’s patient.
While establishing the ethnic and cultural considerations relevant for the patient, it is important not to rely solely on the collection of subjective data. In contrast, it is indispensable to explore the potential links between the patient’s background on the one hand and religious or cultural practices on the other hand to develop possible adjustments in prescribing. (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2006)
