The Role of Psychology in Public Health Services - Case Study Example

? The Role of Psychology in Public Health Services Full Michelle Van Ryn and Steven Fu’s article on racial or ethnic disparitiesin health answer questions about how the subject matter affect help seekers and health care providers’ attitude toward each other. The authors delved deep into the statistics provided about the differences in how Whites are given services in contrast to those given to their Black counterparts. Their purpose is not limited to bringing out the statistical data that show disparities in health care received among different races but extends to offering information that could stir more in-depth studies and considerations about the said topic in order to improve the current medical treatments and attitudes. The article is directed to health care providers like doctors, psychologists, nurses or other health employees who in one way or another affect how help-seekers are treated. It could have also been intended for policy makers who are in the position and have the authority to influence how health care providers should treat their patients. The article could also be useful to patients who are seeking help especially the Blacks so that they will be aware of the benefits they are missing and should have. In case they are faced with similar circumstances mentioned in the article, they would know their rights and know what to demand for when seeking professional help. The article clearly shows the need for review of the racial disparities in several government institutions as evidenced by recorded statistics and results of studies. The authors theoretically assume that the behavior of health and human service providers contribute to race or ethnicity differences in care and therefore, institutional discrimination (Van Ryn & Fu). There is the assumption that stereotyping primarily affects how people are given help and it has been well evidenced with general observations as well as specific examples that this supposition is true. People around the globe automatically have ideas about other people either consciously or unconsciously and this affects how individuals treat them. For instance, a Black man in rugged clothes, evidently unable to attend to his personal hygiene is automatically considered a threat to the environment whether in terms of health or security. When the man enters a hospital for help, he could be admitted and placed in seclusion as most Blacks are treated (Van Ryn & Fu). Perhaps one of the reasons for such treatment is the thought that Blacks do not go to hospitals for real medical needs but they are there to seek free shelter and food. This kind of attitude can deprive help seekers of treatment and cure they indeed need medical attention and not just what is perceived by the stereotypical employee. Moreover, Van Ryn and Fu theorized that “providers' beliefs about help seekers influence their interpretation of the problems or symptoms of these individuals”. Again, they have proven this to be true with the use of results of studies performed on a number of psychotherapists presented with Black and White patients showing the same symptoms. As expected, the behaviors of the Black patient were considered less clinically significant than the White patient’s. More similar situations proved the specifically noted theories of the authors to be true. The authors though, did not aim to write the article to prove their assumptions right but as mentioned earlier, to encourage change in the care providers’ attitudes to give better services and give attention to the real issues rather than what they perceive as a result of stereotypical understanding. The subject matter is important in the study of psychology because it helps bring about better treatments of help seekers as a consequence of being knowledgeable of the issues brought up in the article. Psychologists can help design a workable plan wherein first and foremost; the educated party should have the initiative to consider his/her attitude towards the other party which is the help seeker. Moreover, as the authors pointed out, social cognition is a subfield of social psychology that studies how we make sense of other people, that is, the mental representations and processes that underlie social perception, social judgment, social interaction and social influence (Van Ryn & Fu). Since the process is two-way, a purposeful plan should be devised, as mentioned earlier, with the educated party playing more active roles in order to influence the seekers. The above statement will not just be beneficial to the seekers but to the providers as well because they will come to project a more refined attitude worthy of respect. Psychology will bring balance to the reason of moral rationing and appropriateness with regard the responses of providers to seekers. For instance, as the article pointed out by giving an example of how a cardiac surgeon reacted to his patients saying he is not going to treat cardiac patients who were just going out to do drugs. On a moral standpoint, the surgeon has the obligation to give assistance to whoever seeks his help regardless of his economic status, gender, race, profession, habits and hobbies. Therefore, the doctor’s reasoning is morally unacceptable. On the other hand, sensibility suggests that the drug addict does not deserve to be given medical attention because even if his heart condition will be treated, he will still eventually die because of the drugs he is taking. This is where psychology enters in. Perhaps if the surgeon considers himself to be on a position where he is supposed to educate his patient and explain to him the possible complications his drug use would bring about and look into the underlying reasons for his drug use, the patient could probably sober up and listen to advice. As proven in the studies, seekers can react according to how they are treated. The article mentions that “independent of physician characteristics and patient personality, clinical, and socio-demographic characteristics, cardiac patients' race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status negatively influenced physicians' ratings of their personality, education, intelligence, career demands, and likely treatment adherence.” This is indeed shocking to learn about because physicians in particular are expected to act professionally and wisely. Although it is undeniably important to consider one’s economic ability in prescribing medicines that patients can afford, it still seems ridiculous for a physician to make up his mind without even considering the perceptions of the patient. This presents the necessity for all the help available and those which could be made available for providers to improve their attitudes toward seekers. Existing research is said to be limited and unable to predict providers’ reactions to help seeker characteristics (Van Ryn & Fu), therefore, more studies should be encouraged. Strategies used in the researches should be well-designed, considering all aspects affecting the issue, for a more reliable and successful result. Reference Van Ryn, Michelle, & Fu, Steven S. (February, 2003). Paved with Good Intentions: Do Public Health and Human Service Providers Contribute to Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health? American Public Health Association: American Journal of Public Health. Retrieved from https://login.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/2150 95696?accountid=11233 Read More