A Vietnamese child with round swellings on the back after rubbing the edge of a coin on oiled skin; the nurse identifies the behavior is prompted by which cultural belief?

• A. It is used to diagnose skin conditions
• B. It is believed to rid the body of disease
• C. It is a method to determine a person's blood type
• D. It is a ritual with no health implications

Answer: (B)

In many Vietnamese families, rubbing a coin on oiled skin is a traditional healing practice called coining. The round welts that appear afterward are expected results of the ritual, not signs of injury. The belief behind it is that the friction draws out illness or toxins from the body and helps rid the person of disease. So the behavior is prompted by the healing belief that the body can be cured by releasing disease. It’s not about diagnosing a skin condition, not a method to determine blood type, and it isn’t a health-neutral ritual; it has identifiable health implications like skin irritation or bruising that the nurse should recognize and address with cultural sensitivity.