tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12768745.post114536986390415870..comments2023-10-06T03:37:01.691-04:00Comments on A Visible City: Medical compliance and social issuesAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869732583462152107noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12768745.post-1154181021237174852006-07-29T09:50:00.000-04:002006-07-29T09:50:00.000-04:00There is a large biomedical literature on this top...There is a large biomedical literature on this topic. although I haven't seen many applied anthropologists examing this issue. Most work is not systematic and there is little descriptive or formative work. Most interventions are not very empowering, which means that persons taking medications (especially for chronic diseases) have to examine their realities (including aspects of daily life (time management), quality of life, finances, cultural values and beliefs, etc.; and then come up with their own solutions collectively (as did the people with HIV who text message each other). People also have to believe that the treatment is effective (that it works) compared to the effects of the medications. For example, it is well known that the discomfort with hypertension medications is high because there are no or few symptoms when one does not take them. In addition, survival may not be that important to the elderly given their declining quality of life. People do need information support (reminder) systems. As applied anthropologists, we have to be careful ethically in our studies because we should not be taking the side of commercial biomedical establishment, and dedicate ourselves to promoting questionable medical practives and products. <BR/>Jose Arrom j.arrom@comcast.netAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com