Box 3.

Questions from the Patient's Cultural Health BeliefsQuestionnaire

What brought you to the doctor today? What do you think caused your problem? Why do you think it started when it did? What do you think your sickness does to your body? How does it work? How bad is your sickness? Has this difficulty interfered with your normal daily routines? If yes, how? How long do you think it will last? Do you know others who have had this problem? What did they do to treat it? Did you discuss the problem with any of your relatives or friends? What did they say? What kinds of medicines, home remedies, or other treatments have you triedfor this sickness? (Include quantity, dosage, frequency, how treatmentsprepared) Did they help? Are you still using them? What type of treatment do you think you need from the doctor today? What do you hope the treatment will do for you? Do you think there is any way to prevent this problem in the future?

Adapted from: Kleinman A, Eisenberg L, Good B. Culture, illness and care:Clinical lessons from anthropologic and cross-cultural research. AnnIntern Med 1978;88:251-258.