How culture influences health beliefs?

All cultures have systems of health beliefs to explain what causes illness, how it can be cured or treated, and who should be involved in the process such as the difference between Asians/Pacific Islanders and Chinese. Asians/Pacific Islanders families maintaining harmony is an important value;therefore, there is a strong emphasis on avoiding conflict and direct confrontation. Among Chinese patients, because the behavior of the individual reflects on the family, mental illness or any behavior that indicates lack of self-control may produce shame and guilt.The extent to which patients perceive patient education as having cultural relevance for them can have a profound effect on their reception to information provided and their willingness to use it.Cultural differences affect patients’ attitudes about medical care and their ability to understand, manage, and cope with the course of an illness, the meaning of a diagnosis, and the consequences of medical treatment.