Introduction
The most prevalent cause for people to visit a doctor is pain, which is all too common. The presence of pain in the human body signifies that a particular tissue is injured and requires prompt medical attention. Culture influences health inequities, medical results, interaction with physicians and nurses, and the disease’s perception. Tradition can impact various pain-related factors, such as discomfort communication styles, emotional reactions to other people’s agony, trauma tolerance and intensity, attitudes about and coping mechanisms for hurt, and pain anxiety. This essay focuses on recognizing and acknowledging the impact of Thailand ethnic groups on precepting, responding, and handling pain.
Natures of Pain
Agony can take on various forms, including physical and emotional pain. Physical discomfort can be classified as acute (severe and temporary) or chronic (sharp and persistent). A sprain or fracture are two common examples of a tissue injury that results in acute discomfort. Additionally, chronic pain is frequently brought on by infection or inflammation, such as arthritis and cancer (Zhang et al., 2020). Emotional suffering has non-physical causes and frequently results from the deeds of others. In other instances, it could be the outcome of a mental health issue, including sadness or anxiety.
Relationship Between Ethnic Group and Pain
Doctors highly value patients’ self-reported pain assessments in their patient-centered strategy for managing it. According to studies, a patient’s ethnicity could affect how much pain they feel since various ethnic groups perceive pain differently. Previous situations and trauma can influence a group’s sensitivity to and awareness of pain. According to Zhang et al. (2020), continuous exposure to unpleasant stimuli might raise a person’s pain threshold. Certain ethnic groups adapt to discomfort by developing stronger pain tolerances.
Ethnic Differences in Pain Perception and Pain Responses
The Thai people well understand the relevance of pain in one’s livelihood. Comparing the Thai ethnic group to Western cultures, they react to pain differently. Caucasians are more likely to use pain-coping techniques involving ignoring the discomfort’s source (Kennel et al., 2019). Even though taking chances could lead to more severe suffering, the ethnic groups in Thailand choose to do so to stay safe. Thais have a higher pain tolerance than Caucasians because they see suffering as a natural part of life. Therefore, pain perception and response vary between various ethnic groups.
Nurse Culture and Patients’ Pain Experience
A physician may mistake a patient’s pain experience if they are unfamiliar with their cultural values and beliefs. The patient might remain silent when addressing their suffering, for instance, when they are from a culture where it is taboo to speak about pain in public (Olof et al., 2018). Additionally, caregivers’ personal biases impact their professionalism since they may find it challenging to recognize a patient’s pain cues if they feel intimidated by that patient’s ethnicity. Based on what physicians believe to be crucial for patients suffering pain, nurses’ beliefs and values may impact how individuals’ pain experiences are interpreted.
Assessment of Pain for Thailand Ethnic Group
Pain is defined in numerous ways in Thai culture based on experiences relating to community and social settings. The ethnic Thai population often sees suffering as an inevitable aspect of life that must be accepted (Youngcharoen et al., 2018). For the Thai people, pain can be either acute or persistent and causes physical and psychological anguish. The ethnic group also considers four degrees of pain intensity: mild, moderate, high, and severe. Healthcare professionals employ verbal and non-verbal clues to measure patients’ pain levels. Few verbal indicators, including sighing, are used by ethnic groups in Thailand to convey their suffering (Youngcharoen et al., 2018). On the other hand, Thai people use various nonverbal cues, including clenching of the jaw and closed eyes, to indicate discomfort.
Pain Assessment Tool
When speaking with medical professionals, implementing a pain scale to track sensations, emotions, and symptoms makes it easier for patients to describe the type, level, and extent of their suffering. The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) assessment instrument would be most helpful for Thailand’s ethnic groupings. This instrument can be used to assess a person in severe pain, track the pain through time, and assess the success of any interventions (Alharbi et al., 2020). Additionally, MPQ has been demonstrated to be useful in determining the severity of common chronic pain illnesses like cancer, arthritis, and spinal pain. MPQ would benefit the ethnic groups of Thailand since their traditions do not allow them to verbally express their pain.
Nursing Intervention When Caring for Thailand’s Ethnic Group
Pharmaceuticals, complementary therapies, and inter-professional teamwork are the most frequently utilized methods for pain management in Thai patients. Pharmaceuticals like Ibuprofen are used in Thai culture to relieve pain. With the right prescription, these over-the-counter medications can ease discomfort. Pain management for Thai patients often includes alternative remedies. These treatments may include acupuncture needles implanted into specific body locations and substances like ginger root tea (Youngcharoen et al., 2018). When performed by qualified practitioners, acupuncture helps reduce pain. To provide the finest level of care, nurses must collaborate with people from different professions to get familiar with cultural perceptions of pain.
Conclusion
In summary, discomfort caused by pain should be expressed when it reaches an intolerable level. Along with its physical effects, pain can also have psychological and cognitive effects. These elements interact with one another, and the existence of one triggers the other. In Thailand’s ethnic groupings, suffering is inescapable, yet admitting it is shameful. Several ethnic groups experience pain distinctively and react to it differently. The provision of painkilling drugs by healthcare experts is crucial. Implementing an appropriate pain assessment tool, such as the McGill Pain Questionnaire, is necessary due to the different variables in the evaluation and treatment of pain.
References
Alharbi, H. A., Albabtain, M. A., Alobiad, N., & Algarni, K. D. (2020). Pain perception assessment using the short-form McGill pain questionnaire after cardiac surgery. Saudi Journal of Anesthesia, 14(3), 343-348. Web.
Kennel, J., Withers, E., Parsons, N., & Woo, H. (2019). Racial/ethnic disparities in pain treatment: Evidence from Oregon emergency medical services agencies. Medical Care, 57(12), 166-178. Web.
Olof, K., McGrath, P. J., Finley, G. A., Kristjansdottir, G., Siripul, P., & Yoko, Y. (2018). Cultural influences on parental responses to children’s pain. PAIN, 159(10), 2035-2049.
Youngcharoen, P., Aree-Ue, S., & Saraboon, Y. (2018). Validation of pain catastrophizing scale-Thai version in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 22(3), 211-221.
Zhang, M., Yuqi, Z., & Kong, Y. (2020). Interaction between social pain and physical pain. SAGE Journal, 5(4), 47-55.