Shamans in a Hmong American community.
OBJECTIVE
To increase understanding of the process and meanings of shamanic care from patient complaint through diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.


METHODS
Information collected from 924 patient contact forms completed by 36 shamans over an 18-month period included basic demographic information on the patients, their complaints, treatments suggested by the shamans and the shamans' perceptions of the outcomes of treatment. These data were translated and entered into a computer database.


METHODS
A Hmong American community in California's Central Valley.


METHODS
Quantitative descriptions of the sample were generated and integrated with qualitative analysis of the content of the text from the diagnostic, treatment and outcome categories was performed to systematically identify patterns in the data.


RESULTS
Patients sought shamanic help for an array of physical, emotional, and psychologic complaints--problems that the shamans frequently diagnosed as being caused by soul loss or bad spirits.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest the persistence of the need for the spiritual healing provided by the shamans within this immigrant community. Shamans' rituals affirmed and strengthened connections to family, culture, and community.
Helsel
Deborah G
DG
Department of Sociology, California State University, Fresno, CA.
Mochel
Marilyn
M
Bauer
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D019423:Shamanism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology