Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Eastern and Western style medicine

HCA 4303, Comparative Health Systems 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit III Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Eastern and Western style medicine by comparing and contrasting the historical and structural aspects of two country’s systems.

Reading Assignment Chapter 4: The Healthcare System in the United States Chapter 6: The Healthcare System in Japan

Unit Lesson Imagine going to your family physician’s office after several weeks of unexplained lower back pain. Although you were hoping to heal naturally with rest, analgesics, and perhaps a heating pad, you finally admit defeat and decide you must see a provider. You anticipate being x-rayed, receiving a diagnosis that sounds Latin, and a prescription—perhaps a strong muscle relaxant and physical therapy. Your only real hope is that surgery will not be required to cure the pain. After being checked in by the receptionist and screened by a registered nurse, your vital signs are measured and recorded, and you are escorted to an examination room where you are instructed to remove your clothing and put on the loosely fitted gown to await the physician’s arrival. As you look around the room, you notice diplomas from several schools of medicine at Ivy League universities, a current state license, and evidence of Board Certification. You feel very confident in the physician’s capabilities and rest assured that you are safe medically. When he arrives, he greets you warmly and asks to examine your back. He palpitates numerous areas in various ways. Then, he asks you to sit up on the edge of the exam table. His response is stated quietly and confidently, “you have lower back strain caused by stress. You need to begin to pray and medicate for at least 30 minutes each day. Make an appointment to come back and see me in two weeks. I’m sure you will feel better by then.” As he leaves the room, a number of emotions begin to surface: disbelief, confusion, uncertainty, frustration, and even anger. This would be descriptive of the average American’s response to the situation. In the United States, we practice “Western medicine.” We anticipate a prescription pad and feel somehow cheated if there is no complex explanation for our anatomical discomfort. However, if you lived in Japan and had that same situation, you might very well be grateful for the positive news, thank the physician profusely, and begin to follow his or her instructions at your earliest opportunity. Physicians trained and practicing in Japan practice a combination of Western medicine and “Eastern medication.” In this unit, we will discuss the numerous similarities and differences between the two approaches, and you will use this comparative analysis to write a 300-word paper comparing three strengths and weaknesses of the history and structure of both the United States and Japan. According to Suzuki (2004), the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is increasing rapidly. Based on the research, more people worldwide are using CAM than are those practicing Western medicine. This is significant for those of us in the United States. We tend to believe that the rest of the world experiences health care very much in the same way that we do here. However, as we will see throughout this course, that is not the case. Unlike Western countries, part of Kampo medicine (Japanese herbal medicine) and acupuncture are covered by the public health insurance (Suzuki, 2004). This is significant since 100% of Japan’s citizens are covered by a public insurance (Lovett-Scott, 2014). The United States has only recently began to contemplate a form

UNIT III STUDY GUIDE

A Comparison of Both Current Structure and Historical Perspectives: The United States and Japan

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of universal health insurance, and it is not likely to include CAM. As you know from previous courses, chiropractic care is only now being covered by major third party payers in the United States primarily because it is not a perfect fit into Western medicine. Although approximately 50% of Americans use some type of CAM, it will likely be a few more years before techniques used in Eastern medicine are covered. Suzuki (2004) classifies CAM into four basic groups. The first is alternative medical systems. These include traditional Chinese medicine, as well as a variety of homeopathic and naturopathic medicine techniques. The second group is mind-body interventions. This includes meditation, prayer, mental healing, art, dance, and music therapy. Third, the manipulative and body-based methods include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage. The final category is energy therapies that include Qi (the body’s natural energy) therapy, therapeutic touch, and the use of electromagnetic fields. Other popular techniques include acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, and aromatherapy. Below, you will find a chart that describes other commonly accepted differences between Eastern and Western medicine. Use it as a guide while reading Chapters 4 and 6 as well as when you are writing your assigned paper for this unit.

TOPIC EASTERN VIEW WESTERN VIEW

1. Origin of the Approach

Chinese medicine can be traced back many centuries and is often credited for developing much of the knowledge and many of the techniques.

Knowledge and techniques are typically credited to European medical schools that sprung up inside the United States in the 1800s.

2. The Definition of Being Healthy

A balance between mind, body, and spirit

The absence of pain, symptoms, discomfort, physical, or mental defects

3. The Definition of Being Unhealthy

An imbalance or disharmony of the natural body energy known as “qi”

A defect of the bodily (including mental) structure with a cause and symptoms

4. Meaning of Symptoms

The body’s way of showing that it is healing

A sign of illness to be eliminated or at the very least suppressed.

5. The Cause of Illness

Any action that will cause disharmony of the qi

A foreign pathogen or force from outside the body

6. Patient’s Responsibility

To prevent illness and live a healthy, harmonious lifestyle

Personal lifestyle beginning to receive attention (diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, etc.,) but focus is still on healing, not on staying healthy

7. The Physician’s Role

An assistant to help people stay healthy and harmonious

A mechanic to find and fix what is broken or not working.

8. Goal of Treatment

To restore balance through lifestyle changes and other natural means

To suppress symptoms–usually through medications, treatments, or surgery

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9. Major Strength

The recognition of lifestyle’s impact and a focus on prevention

Ability to treat structural defects as well as life-threatening illnesses through trauma care and surgery

10. Major Weakness

Often seen as “second best” within the medical community

An overreliance on pharmaceuticals and an inflated cost that burdens the economy

Hopefully, you enjoy this unit and gain several important insights that you can use to prepare your personal manifesto in Unit VIII. There is much that Westerners can learn from studying and embracing the centuries- old Eastern medicine techniques!

References Lovett-Scott, M., & Prather, F. (2014). Global health systems: Comparing strategies for delivering health

services. Jones and Bartlett Learning. Suzuki, N. (2004). Complementary and alternative medicine: A Japanese perspective. Evidence-Based

Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1(2). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC516460/

Key Terms

1. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) 2. Cultural competence 3. Gold plan 4. Managed care 5. Primary care 6. Universal coverage