Special Issues in Diverse Populations: Asian and Eastern Asian

Question 1

Name the religions of South Asia.

Answer 1

Hinduism
Sikhism
Buddhism
Jainism
Catholicism
Islam
Other

Question 2

Describe the basics of Hinduism.

Answer 2

no central religious authority
no single founder
polytheistic monism (one God, "Brahman", who manifests in different forms- each represents a different quality of Brahman)
no binding holy book
no single concept of the Divine

Question 3

What are the gods in Hinduism?

Answer 3

Brahman (creation)
Vishnu (preservation)
Shiva (destruction)

Question 4

What is Buddhism?

Answer 4

non-atheistic religion, founded by Siddhartha Guatama (aka Buddha)
“intellectual hinduism”
incorporates philosophy of karma, transmigration of the soul, and cyclic nature of life

Question 5

Describe the Sikh Religion.

Answer 5

monotheistic religion (one Divine spirit)
God cannot take human form (Holy spirit is formless)

Question 6

List the concerns for family history in patients who follow Asian and Eastern Asian religions.

Answer 6

*Consanguinity
distinct relationships (maternal vs paternal)
extended families
use of herbs and non-traditional remedies

Question 7

What conditions are seen prevalent in Asian and South Asian populations?

Answer 7

1 in 30 to 1 in 50 South Asians are beta-thalassemia or sickle cell (+)
1 in 50 Chinese/Taiwanese are beta-thalassemia (+)
1 in 20 Chinese/Taiwanese are cis alpha-thalassemia (+)