"The eighth edition of this book continues to promote an awareness of the dimensions and complexities involved in caring for people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Completely revised and updated, Rachel examines the differences existing within North America by probing the health care system and consumers, and examples of traditional health/ HEALTH beliefs and practices among selected populations. An emphasis on the influences of recent social, political, and demographic changes helps to explore the issues and perceptions of health and illness today, while new introductory and capstone chapters help place material within perspective. An essential for any health-care professional, this book sets the standard for cultural perspectives and more importantly HEALTH; the balance of the person, both within one's being; physical, mental, and spiritual; and in the outside world; natural, communal, and metaphysical. (Terms, such as HEALTH, are written this way to emphasize holistic meaning.)."