title: Health and healing: traditional medicine and the Karen experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the beliefs, attitudes and health-seeking behavior surrounding the use of traditional medicine among the Karen (refugees from Burma).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three focus groups and two key-informant interviews were conducted with the Karen along with observations by researchers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Karen continue to use elements of their traditional healthcare system after resettling in the U.S. Accessibility and perceived efficacy of treatments influence their health-seeking behavior. The participants discussed beliefs about health and healing, spirituality, and their experience as refugees. Implications for improving the quality of healthcare for the Karen and recommendations for further research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, USA. oles0045@umn.edu
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Oleson
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chute
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Fallon
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar / Q000208:ethnology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult