[Causal concepts and health conduct in Indian folk medicine].
BACKGROUND
Norway is an increasingly multicultural society, and cultural diversities are a challenge for doctor-patient-relationships.


METHODS
Qualitative and quantitative studies aimed at describing health behaviour and causal concepts, were undertaken in a village in India in July 2003. 13 villagers and 5 local providers of traditional health care were interviewed in a semi-structured way, and questionnaire-based interviews were conducted in 56 (out of 118) households on health behaviour.


RESULTS
Three main causal concepts were found: balance between the qualities HEAT: and COLD: in the body, DISTHI: (evil eye; witchcraft) and evil spirits. Health behaviour is mainly influenced by the understanding of what causes disease, experience with the provider of treatment and the treatment itself.


CONCLUSIONS
Causal concepts, or ways of understanding disease, were common to those found in similar studies. Physician awareness of these concepts will be helpful when communicating with patients from other cultural backgrounds.
Larsen
Ingeborg
I
Nordlys Legesenter Thomasbakken 12 9513 Alta. larseningeborg@hotmail.com
Andersson
Hedda Goverud
HG
D003142:Communication; D003210:Concept Formation; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009664:Norway / Q000208:ethnology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires