Treatment Modalities and Culture

Abstract Culture can affect treatment modalities in numerous ways. If people in a society understand a treatment modality and accept its application, they are more likely to accept and comply with the treatment. If the treatment is not familiar, or conflicts with cultural notions regarding treatment, acceptance and adherence will suffer (Moore& Boehnlein, 1991, p. 1029). Culturalfamiliarity and approvalserve as a critical first step toward family acceptance, societal access to and availability of the modality, and the support of other societal institutions for the modality. Society endorses treatment alternatives through such institutions as education, religion, health care, health law, industrial production, and courts.