ABSTRACT
In the field of health care, cultural competency refers to the ability of healthcare professionals to acknowledge, respect, and accordingly respond to the varied needs, beliefs, values, and practices followed by persons and the communities they serve. The purpose of the current review is to explore the role of cultural factors and trauma experience, and identify the strategies that can be employed to train and assess medical students in cultural competency pertaining to trauma patients. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out on the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines and a total of 21 articles were selected based on their suitability with the current review objectives. Cultural factors play a defining role in determining the experiences of trauma patients, and how these patients and family members perceive, cope, and recover from such traumatic events. To meet the diverse needs of the community, the medical curriculum has to be flexible and must include the component of cultural competency. Like any other domain, medical educators must plan for the assessment of cultural competencies while delivering trauma education, as it will provide insights into the readiness of the students to deliver culturally sensitive and effective care to trauma patients. In conclusion, the inclusion of cultural competency training within trauma care in the medical curriculum carries immense utility as it can help healthcare professionals to effectively communicate and respond to the varied needs of trauma patients, regardless of their cultural backgrounds. This calls for the adoption of a combination of teaching-learning methods and assessment methods by medical educators so that medical students can be empowered to deliver culturally sensitive medical care to trauma patients.
ABSTRACT
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a perennial plant used to treat menopause. This plant is known to have a serotonergic rather than estrogenic impact. It has been recommended to treat vasomotor symptoms associated with breast cancer patients. It also relieves symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, commonly called vasorelaxation. The variability in the study's results, doses, and assessment methods requires more rigorous research to establish its efficacy and safety. Standardized trials are needed to provide more precise information on the benefits and limitations of menopause treatment, informing women seeking alternatives to hormone therapy. Black cohosh has shown the potential to reduce the frequency and intensity of vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment. In addition to its effectiveness in alleviating night sweats and hot flashes, the vasorelaxation properties contribute to its overall positive impact on menopausal symptoms. Due to discrepancies, varying dosages, and assessment techniques, further comprehensive studies are essential to determine the optimal dosage, long-term safety, and overall efficacy. Only through standardized trials can women make informed decisions about black cohosh as a viable alternative to hormone therapy during menopause.
