Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6093

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Munoz C, Hilgenberg C.
Ethnopharmacology: understanding how ethnicity can affect drug response is essential to providing culturally competent care.
Holist Nurs Pract 2006 Sep-Oct 01; 20:(5):227-34
http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?an=00004650-200609000-00004

Abstract:

Ethnopharmacologic research has revealed that ethnicity significantly affects drug response. Genetic or cultural factors, or both, may influence a given drug’s pharmacokinetics (its absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination) and pharmacodynamics (its mechanism of action and effects at the target site), as well as patient adherence and education. In addition, the tremendous variation within each of the broader racial and ethnic categories defined by the U.S. Census Bureau (categories often used by researchers) must be considered. Nurses need to become knowledgeable about drugs that are likely to elicit varied responses in people with different ethnic backgrounds, as well as the potential for adverse effects. The existing ethnopharmacologic research focuses primarily on psychotropic and antihypertensive agents, as does this article. Cultural assessment of every patient is vital; thus Leininger’s Sunrise Model and Giger and Davidhizar’s Transcultural Assessment Models are briefly described as well.