Week 1 Discussion NURS 6512 Understanding the Individual The provider who can build a rapport and earn the trust of a patient will meet less resistance when gathering information for a health history. It is important to look at the whole person, considering factors that could influence the patient’s overall health such as occupation, culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (Ball, Dains, Flynn, Solomon, & Stewart,2015). The purpose of this discussion is to identify techniques in building a health history for a 76-year-old Black man, with disabilities that lives in an urban area. Factors for Consideration At 76, even with known disabilities, the patient has probably outlived many in his community as the life expectancy of the American Black male, is just over 72 years of age (Arias, Heron & XU,2016). The African-American patient might not trust health care providers based on a history of isolation and exploitation (Watts, 2003). Until the middle of the last century, health care was often segregated, and those of African heritage were not afforded the same consideration as those of European descent (Watts,2003). The construction of a health history requires the provider to be sensitive to patient feelings and perceptions related to health care. The Assessment The collection and analysis of information regarding an individual’s current and overall