Cultural Considerations

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Health history interview and assessment
A patient health history interview is a diagnostic and therapeutic tool used by medics especially nurses in their daily clinical practice. According to Li (2010) "The art of interviewing a patient is one of the trickiest clinical ability to master" p.947. The nurse, in this case, needs both to grasp both emotional, and intellectual, analytical skills of diagnosis accompanied by social interpersonal skill to enable him/her to achieve effective communication by the patient and establish rapport.
Techniques currently used the practice
It’s the therapeutic task of the nurse to institute a helping liaison or rather relationship in the conversation. It’s the foundation of medical practice. A medical interview is the best platform for building trust and commitment between the clinicians and patients. However, this does not occur magically. It takes a non-judgmental approach, active listening and concern for the patient on the side of the nurse. It’s also essential to admit the fact that each patient is different. Each patient is special because people come from diverse cultural backgrounds with unique health beliefs. Age is also another issue that should be factored in when conducting the interview. Other techniques of skilled interviewing include; guided questioning, non-verbal communication, emphatic responses, reassurance, transitions and empowering the patient (Li, 2010 p.947).
Factors that affect patient response in the interview
Patent culture, age and health beliefs are some of the factors that influence the assessment and interview techniques in clinical practice. Even expert nurses encounter problems in the interviewing process. Nurses need to identify and solve ...