| The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the issues of cultural differences as possible barriers to care seeking and hence health disparities among late-in-life Iranian immigrants. The findings of this research reveal that cultural differences, particularly the way health, illness, and healing are defined, are significant in explaining the health-related behaviors of the participants.;This study shows that the participants have a distinctly holistic approach to health, looking at mind, body, and spirit as interconnected parts of a whole. Furthermore, many of the cultural differences that contribute to the care-seeking behavior of late-in-life Iranian immigrants in this study are explained by attention to three value priority differences that exist between the participants and the biomedical model, which dominates Western medicine.;These value priority differences include the value of individual versus family. To the study participants, their health, illness, and healing are concerns for the entire family and not for the patient alone. The participants overwhelmingly expressed a desire to have any news of terminal illness disclosed only to family members and never to the patient directly. The other value difference is the value of physical health versus ruhi (emotional, mental, and spiritual) health. The study reveals that the participants place greater value on their ruhi health than on their physical health. Many believe that attention to their ruhi health is generally absent in their interaction with health-care providers in the United States. The last value difference found in this study is the value of knowing versus not knowing. The participants believe that knowing about terminal illnesses can lead to what they call loss of an "appetite for life," which can ultimately lead to deteriorating health. The participants' desire not to know is demonstrated by their reluctance to seek preventive care and an equal reluctance to seek care when a serious illness is suspected. Attention to the differences in definitions of health, illness, and healing and to the value differences that exist between the participants and their care providers prove significant in understanding the care-seeking behaviors of the study participants. |
