University of Port Harcourt Term Paper PDF

**UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT** **FACULTY CLINICAL SCIENCE** **COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES** **DEPARTMENT OF NURSING** **A TERM PAPER** **ON THE TOPIC** **ORTHODOX HEALTH CARE PRACTICES** **(SUPERIORITY TO TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE PRACTICES AND WAYFORWARD)** **PRESENTED** **BY** **GROUP 2**...

**UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT** **FACULTY CLINICAL SCIENCE** **COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES** **DEPARTMENT OF NURSING** **A TERM PAPER** **ON THE TOPIC** **ORTHODOX HEALTH CARE PRACTICES** **(SUPERIORITY TO TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE PRACTICES AND WAYFORWARD)** **PRESENTED** **BY** **GROUP 2** **(Right hand side)** **300 level** **COURSE CODE: NSC 305.2** **COURSE TITLE: HUMAN BEHAVIOURIN HEALTHA AN ILLNESS** **COURSE LECTURER: MRS CHINEYE** **QUESTIONS** 1. **WHY THE ORTHODOX HEALTH CARE PRACTICE SUPERIOR TO THE TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE PRACTICE?** 2. **WHY IS IT PREFERRED OVER THE TRADITIONAL CARE HEALTH PRACTICE?** 3. **WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF ORTHODOX HEALTH CARE PRACTICE IF ANY?** 4. **WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?** **QUESTION 1** **WHY THE ORTHODOX HEALTH CARE PRACTICE IS SUPERIOR TO THE TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE PRACTICES?** The Orthodox health care practices are superior to traditional health care practices.This is confirmed through the following; 1. **Emphasis on prevention:** Orthodox health care practices prioritize prevention and early intervention, which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall health through medical and community outreaches, TV and mass media sensitization, immunization programmes and screening, vaccination etc. 2. **Use of advanced technology:** Orthodox healthcare practices often rely on advanced medical technology, such as imaging equipment, lab tests, and surgical equipment, which can help diagnose and treat complex conditions more effectively. 3. **Published knowledge rather than secrecy:** In orthodox health care practice new discoveries on the improvement of health care are shared among all health care practitioners for implementation, reference, research, and further advancement. 4. **Practice of aseptic technique through sterilization of equipments** e.g in wound dressing how many traditional health setting sterilize the equipment used during this procedure? 5. **Professionalism, accreditation and licensing:** All the services they provide are guided by rules and regulations in order for them to work within their jurisdiction. For instance, when an orthodox practitioner goes against the expected standard of care, their license can be withdrawn, thus preventing from harming others, but this not in the traditional practice. 6. **Approach to communicable disease:** During the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, orthodox healthcare practices were crucial in containing the spread of the disease. Healthcare providers used evidence-based protocols, personal protective equipment, and advanced medical technology to treat patients and prevent further transmission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, orthodox medicine was vital in saving lives. Healthcare professionals provided critical care, while scientists rapidly developed mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which significantly reduced severe illness and death. Evidence-based treatments such as dexamethasone and remdesivir further lowered mortality rates. Through swift innovation, effective vaccines, and coordinated public health measures, orthodox medicine played a key role in controlling the pandemic and protecting millions worldwide. ***Please what was the role of the traditionalists in cubing the spread of an epidemic?*** **7**. **Documentation of care:** Documentation by orthodox practitioners plays a vital role in healthcare by ensuring continuity of care, supporting research, and providing a reference for future treatment decisions. It enhances communication among healthcare providers, offers legal protection by serving as an accurate record of care, and contributes to improving patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality. ***Do the traditionalists also document the care rendered or is it not important?*** **8**. **Approach towards diagnosis:** Orthodox care run series of tests or undergo laboratory investigations to make accurate diagnosis of health conditions. They also use it to rule out other health conditions that might have similar symptoms. E.g treating headache as a result of stress or as a result of a brain tumor. ***What makes the traditionalist sure of his diagnosis?*** **9. Approach towards the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders:** Due to intense research and experimentation, Orthodox medicine have found a way to identify mental Disorders by laying down specific characteristics to look out for before making an accurate mental health diagnosis..in the course of this research too, treatment modalities have been discovered to help in the management of these disorders such as psychopharmacology where we have the antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, etc. ***This begs me to ask, what are the treatment modalities employed by the traditionalist towards mental health disorders?*** ***10. Advancements in Organ Transplantation: The ability to perform organ transplants is a key area where orthodox medicine demonstrates its superiority over traditional practices. Through sophisticated surgical techniques, advanced immunosuppressive therapies, and rigorous post-operative care, modern medicine offers life-saving options for patients with organ failure---something not possible with traditional methods alone. Organ transplantation restores function, extends life expectancy, and dramatically improves the quality of life for patients suffering from end-stage organ diseases. The scientific rigor, precision, and technological innovation involved in organ transplantation highlight the unique capabilities of orthodox medicine to address complex health conditions that traditional practices cannot manage.*** **QUESTIONS 3** **WHAT ARE TYPES OF ORTHODOX HEALTH CARE PRACTICE IF ANY?** 1\. **General Practice (Primary Care):** \- Focuses on providing general health care and management for various conditions. \- Involves routine check-ups, preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment of common illnesses. 2\. **Specialist Medicine:** \- Involves healthcare professionals who specialize in specific areas of medicine, such as cardiology, neurology, or dermatology. \- Patients are referred to specialists by general practitioners for expert care in a particular field. 3\. **Surgery:** \- Involves operative procedures to treat or manage conditions, ranging from minor surgeries to major operations like cardiac or orthopedic surgery. 4\. **Pediatrics:** \- Focuses on the healthcare of infants, children, and adolescents, including preventive care, vaccinations, and treatment of pediatric illnesses. 5\. **Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN):** \- Specializes in women's health, including pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the female reproductive system. 6\. **Internal Medicine:** \- Deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. \- Internists often serve as primary care physicians but also manage complex illnesses. 7\. **Psychiatry and Mental Health**: \- Focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health conditions, including therapy and medication management. 8\. **Emergency Medicine:** \- Provides acute care for urgent and emergency conditions, including trauma, sudden illness, and other critical situations. 9\. **Radiology:** \- Involves the use of imaging techniques, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, for diagnosis and treatment planning. 10\. **Anesthesiology:** \- Specializes in pain management and the administration of anesthesia during surgeries and other procedures. 11\. **Rehabilitation Medicine:** \- Focuses on restoring function and quality of life for patients recovering from injury, surgery, or chronic conditions through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation services. 12\. **Pharmacology and Pharmacy:** \- Involves the preparation, dispensing, and clinical use of medications to treat and manage illnesses. 13\. **Oncology:** \- Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical interventions. 14\. **Orthopedics:** \- Focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of musculoskeletal disorders, including bones, joints, and muscles. 15\. **Public Health and Preventive Medicine:** \- Emphasizes disease prevention, health promotion, and addressing population-level health issues. **QUESTION 4** **WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?** 1. **Improve Accessibility and Affordability:** Optimizing healthcare infrastructure through community health centers, simplifying administrative processes, and promoting the use of cost-effective medications can reduce overall costs. Enhanced health education and outreach can further empower patients to make informed healthcare decisions, ensuring equitable access to care for all. 2. **Leverage Advanced Technology:** Utilize emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) for diagnostics, personalized medicine, and predictive analytics to improve accuracy and efficiency in patient care. Expand the use of electronic health records (EHRs) to enhance data sharing among providers, reduce medical errors, and streamline workflows. Invest in telemedicine and remote monitoring tools to provide care to patients regardless of location, thereby improving access and reducing costs. 3. Based on the importance of health in human capital development, in economic growth and development, one would expect that countries should invest a greater share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in health development. Note that, the size of GDP allocated to health sector depends mainly on the priority the said country attached to health development and on the rate of the country's economic growth. If these two factors are low, the likelihood is that the percentage of GDP allocated to health would also be low, and vice versa.Take for example. The Nigeria health expenditure as a share of GDP was at level of 4.08 % in 2021, this is below the average spending on healthcare. If the current GDP on health is increased, it will increase the productivity on human capital, thus making a positive contribution to economic growth. 4. **Integration of Complementary Practices:** Enhance orthodox healthcare by thoughtfully integrating evidence-based traditional practices, such as herbal remedies and acupuncture, alongside conventional treatments. This approach respects cultural preferences, provides patients with a broader range of therapeutic options, and may improve outcomes by combining the strengths of both modern and traditional medicine, all while ensuring patient safety and adhering to clinical guidelines. ***Since there are proofs of leafs that the traditionalist have used ,instead of discarding them,the Government can make more findings example is the miracle leaf that heals wound*** 5. **Continued Research and Innovation:** Invest in ongoing research to enhance current treatments and develop new technologies that improve patient care and outcomes. This includes clinical trials to validate new drugs and therapies, studies on the effectiveness of innovative medical devices, and advancements in personalized medicine tailored to individual genetic profiles. By prioritizing research, orthodox healthcare can stay at the forefront of medical science, offering cutting-edge solutions that address emerging health challenges and provide more effective, targeted care for diverse patient populations. 6. **Continuing Education for All Practitioners:** Offer ongoing education opportunities for both modern healthcare professionals and traditional medicine practitioners to stay current with the latest advances in their fields. This includes interdisciplinary training programs, workshops, and collaborative learning sessions that promote mutual understanding, improve skills, and ensure safe and effective integration of both modern and traditional practices. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, healthcare providers can deliver more comprehensive, patient-centered care that draws on the best of both worlds. 7. **Provision of Standardized Healthcare Facilities:** Strengthen healthcare infrastructure by providing well-equipped and standardized medical facilities, ***particularly in Nigeria**,* where inadequate infrastructure and poor-quality equipment have led to a decline in the healthcare sector. The lack of proper medical facilities discourages healthcare professionals, often driving them to seek opportunities abroad where healthcare systems are more advanced. Additionally, the inability to handle critical health issues due to substandard medical systems forces many Nigerians who can afford it to seek medical care outside the country. Upgrading and standardizing healthcare facilities would improve patient care, retain skilled health workers, and reduce medical tourism by ensuring that critical health problems can be effectively managed locally. Orthodox healthcare is superior due to its scientific basis, advanced technology, and ability to handle complex conditions, such as organ transplants and pandemics. However, integrating traditional practices---like herbal remedies and holistic approaches---into modern medicine can offer a more comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach, combining the strengths of both to provide optimal patient care. **Barnes, P. M., Bloom, B., & Nahin, R. L.** (2008). *Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2007.* National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved from [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/nccih/pdfs/2007_CAM_Use.pdf)\ **Vickers, A. J., & Vertosick, E. A.** (2018). *Integrating complementary and alternative medicine with conventional care.* *Journal of Clinical Oncology*, 36(22), 2211-2219. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2018.79.2822