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Subtle Approach to the Mores of the Navajo Nation

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Difficult Decisions in Surgical Ethics

Part of the book series: Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach ((DDSURGERY))

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Abstract

Physicians frequently care for patients whose cultural, religious, or social backgrounds differ from our own. If these differences are not attended to, the substantial variety in patient values, beliefs, and behaviors related to health and healthcare may result in conflict, misdiagnosis, poor adherence to recommendations, suboptimal outcomes, or decreased patient satisfaction. Cultural, ethnic, or racial discordance between patients and physicians has an impact on communication related to healthcare, and barriers can be due to differences in language, religion or spirituality, family involvement in decision-making, responses to inequities in care, and lack of trust.

This chapter explores the mores of the people of the Navajo Nation, the Diné, and how culture may influence healthcare discussions and decision-making as we highlight a brief history of the Navajo Nation, present-day social determinants of health, and health inequities. We discuss how the concepts of positive and negative thinking may influence medical management and examine culturally competent strategies to improve communication with and advocacy for patients and lessen the effect of cultural and racial discordance between patients and healthcare workers.

Keeping in mind variation of individual patient views, understanding more about the beliefs and customs of the Diné and the Navajo Nation’s beginning as well as its current place in the United States, may assist in a thoughtful approach to caring for patients from a culture or background different from one’s own as we strive to eliminate health disparities.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Nizhoni Denipah, MD for her kind mentorship and contributions to this work and Lori Arviso Alvord, MD for her inspiring narrative and mentorship of underrepresented students to pursue higher education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Erica C. Bennett & Ethan Paddock

Authors
  1. Erica C. Bennett
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  2. Ethan Paddock
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Correspondence to Erica C. Bennett .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Chicago Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Vassyl A. Lonchyna

  2. Providence Children’s Surgical Services St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, OR, USA

    Peggy Kelley

  3. Department of Surgery MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Peter Angelos

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Bennett, E.C., Paddock, E. (2022). Subtle Approach to the Mores of the Navajo Nation. In: Lonchyna, V.A., Kelley, P., Angelos, P. (eds) Difficult Decisions in Surgical Ethics. Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84625-1_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84625-1_20

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