title: [Causal concepts and health conduct in Indian folk medicine].
abstract: 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.
authors: Nordlys Legesenter Thomasbakken 12 9513 Alta. larseningeborg@hotmail.com
authors: Ingeborg
authors: I
authors: Larsen
authors: Hedda Goverud
authors: HG
authors: Andersson
mesh_terms: 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