Ca̧o Gío (Coin Rubbing)
Vietnamese Attitudes Toward Health Care
Abstract
Ca̧o gío is the Vietnamese practice of rubbing the skin with a coin to alleviate various common symptoms of illness. The back, neck, head, shoulders, and chest are common sites of application. Although mimicking the lesions of trauma, it is not a harmful procedure, and no complications are known. A survey of 50 Vietnamese living in the United States since 1975 and 1976 has shown marked distrust of American physicians, owing largely to actual or perceived criticism of ca̧o gío. Acceptance of ca̧o gío as a valid cultural practice will facilitate compliance and adequate medical follow-up.
(JAMA 1980;244:2748-2749)
Footnotes
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This paper was presented to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Detroit, Oct 27, 1980.
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The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
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Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA 98431 (Dr Yeatman).
