Biomedical subjects

S S Rajaram

Publications and source records attributed to S S Rajaram.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Culture care conflicts among Asian-Islamic immigrant women in US hospitals.

Muslims follow their Islamic traditions as they integrate into the US society. Islamic beliefs are reflected in everyday life, and care is viewed within a holistic context. A lack of understanding of Muslims and their cultural and religious traditions contributes to potential conflicts in health care. The five concepts of Islamic beliefs from the religious texts of the Qur'an, Sunnah, and Hadith will be discussed followed by the implication of these beliefs for clinical practice. Knowledge of these Islamic cultural and religious beliefs will help reduce potential culture care conflicts among Asian-Islamic immigrant women in US hospitals.

Asia↗

PubMed2000

Middle Eastern Asian Islamic women and breast self-examination. Needs assessment.

This exploratory, descriptive research study examined the knowledge and frequency of breast self-examination (BSE) among Middle Eastern Asian Islamic immigrant women residing in a major metropolitan U.S. city. The purposive sample consisted of 39 Middle Eastern Asian Islamic immigrant women ranging in age from 20 to 48 years (mean, 33; SD, 8.29). The sample was recruited from women who attended a local mosque. Data was collected by asking a list of seven questions based on Champion's BSE tool that assessed knowledge and frequency of BSE. Sociodemographic information also was collected. The results indicated that 33 women (85%) had heard of breast self-examination, and 29 women (74%) had not examined their breasts for lumps. None of the participants had examined her breasts monthly for lumps during the past year. Most of the women had not learned about BSE from a health professional, nor had they undergone a clinical breast examination (CBE). The results of this research show that Middle Eastern Asian immigrant women may be a population overlooked by health care professionals in the education of BSE. Suggestions to improve breast cancer screening practices among this population are provided.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Asian-Islamic women and breast cancer screening: a socio-cultural analysis.

This article explores religious and socio-cultural issues relevant to breast cancer screening practices among older immigrant Asian-Islamic women in the U.S. Some of the Islamic tenets that facilitate breast cancer screening include cleanliness, prevention and individual responsibility in health promotion, diet and eating habits, and exercise, and those that hinder screening practice include gender and modesty considerations and patriarchal marital beliefs. Socio-cultural barriers include patient-physician communication and beliefs about cancer and cancer prevention. Recommendations to increase knowledge and practice of breast cancer screening within a religious and socio-cultural context are provided.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Nonadherence to follow-up treatment of an abnormal Pap smear: a case study.

This article is a case study of a 32-year-old African-American woman diagnosed with an abnormal Pap smear, who did not follow through with the recommended colposcopy procedure. This case study highlights the role of illness explanatory models in nonadherence to follow-up treatment for an abnormal Pap smear. Illness explanatory models are an individual's personal interpretation of the illness. Research indicates that patients' illness explanatory models may not agree with biomedical explanations, but may sometimes have an adverse impact on health and illness behavior. This case study draws attention to the impact of illness explanatory models of cancer resulting from experience with cancer in the family, personal belief systems, and spiritual faith on the patient's decision not to follow through with recommended treatment for an abnormal Pap smear. Addressing illness explanatory models is of clinical importance in determining methods that will motivate women to follow through with treatment protocols when diagnosed with an abnormal Pap smear. Further in-depth study of the role these explanatory models of cancer play in nonadherence to treatment protocols is needed.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

African American women and diabetes: a sociocultural context.

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death among African American women. One in four black women (23.4 percent) older than age 55 has diabetes. In evaluating the experience of black women with diabetes, an understanding of their social context is essential. Resulting from historical and sociocultural factors, black women have relatively lower income and education levels and consequently, poorer health and restricted access to quality health care. In a sense, being black, female, elderly, and chronically ill places this group in quadruple jeopardy. Tackling the problem of diabetes among African American women is a public health priority and requires a multilevel approach.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1971

Penile horn.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Biopsy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Minority women and breast cancer screening: the role of cultural explanatory models.

Mammography and clinical breast exams are effective secondary prevention techniques for reducing the morbidity and mortality due to breast cancer. Although minority women have higher mortality rates due to breast cancer, they are less likely than white women to use screening procedures. This paper provides a complementary understanding of the use of breast cancer screening among minority women by drawing attention to the role of women's cultural explanatory models (CEMs). CEMs stem from the sociocultural context and involve cultural beliefs and values, personal life experiences, and both biomedical and popular explanations of health and illness. Although women's CEMs may not accord with those of health professionals, they do have an impact on screening behavior. This paper discusses suggestions for addressing these issues in an effort to improve breast cancer screening rates through adopting a cultural relativistic approach.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A biographical disruption: the case of an abnormal pap smear.

In this study we explore the biographical disruption resulting from a diagnosis of an abnormal Pap smear and the consequent process of biographical reconstruction. This is a qualitative study of thirteen women between the ages of 19 and 54 years who were diagnosed with an abnormal Pap smear and underwent colposcopy treatment. Data collection was through individual in-depth interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed by a team of researchers for important themes. An opportunistic sampling strategy was used. The inherent ambiguity in the diagnosis, its treatment strategies, the prognosis of their condition, and patients' fear of cancer all made the process of biographical reconstruction more problematic. By putting their faith in medicine and mobilizing their personal resources, women attempted to reestablish a positive personal and social self. Further exploration of the long-term psychosocial impact of this diagnosis is warranted so that women's emotional as well as medical needs are adequately addressed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗