Culture Quiz #2

What is cultural competency and why is it important?

What is cultural competency and why is it important?

cultural competency is the ability to interact freely and effectively with people of different cultures

It is important, because Health care workers need to be aware of, and sensitive to, cultural diversity, life situations. This in turn makes them better professionals

Identify the difference between cultural competence and cultural competency

Competence is the ability to deliver effective medical care to people from different cultures.

Competency is the ability to interact freely and effectively with people of different cultures

How can a healthcare worker be more culturally competent?

They can understand the cultural differences of America's diverse population and examine their own beliefs to best apply that to their care

What are the 11 areas of potential conflict?

Wellness and Health Prevention, touch and Physical Space, Communication, General Procedures, Dietary Needs, Spirituality, Death, Medications, Pregnancy, Pain Management, other

General Procedures cultural implications

ex. Removing clothing to put on gown can be difficult so healthcare workers must be sensitive to this, always announce arrival when entering a room

ex. Some cultures fear invasive procedures

Hmong people fear with surgical incision, the soul may become frightened and leave the body

Age

children and older adults may not be able to properly communicate symptoms

different health needs in young and old

don't make assumptions about patient based on age alone

Perceptions of Time

some cultures may not think about the future or future medical implications, it is the job of the practitioner to remind them

Patients may not be able to easily recognize clock time, healthcare workers should accommodate with color or time of day

What is culture

Set of values, beliefs, attitudes, languages, symbols, rituals, behaviors, and customs of a group of people, Learned and shared, Dynamic and changing

Ethnicity

Classification of people based on national origin or culture

common examples include African American, Asian American, European American etc.

Race

Classification of people based on physical or biological characteristics. It involves multiple cultures and ethnic groups

What are the types of personal beliefs?

social beliefs, religious beliefs, cultural beliefs, and personal convictions

What are the 11 areas of cultural implications within healthcare?

race, sexuality, gender, national orientation, religion, disability, language, socioeconomic status, physical size, age, geographic location

Wellness and Health Prevention, cultural implications

ex. In American culture, there is more healthy living, and disease prevention

ex. in other cultures such as American Indian, weight gain is seen as normal so dieting is seen as pointless

ex. Some cultures do not like vaccines and others value it

Touch and physical space cultural implications

touch and Physical Space cultural implications

some cultures respect close contact but others view it as invasive

ex. Muslim women cannot be touched by men who aren't immediate family members.

Personal distance varies, so be alert to + and – signs that tell whether the patient is comfortable with the amount of space allowed

The Healthcare worker should do what the patient is most comfortable with

Communication cultural implications

language barriers affect our ability to communicate

ex. Some cultures do not like discussing sexual activity while other cultures are more open to it

ex. Matriarchal Vs. Patriarchal societies, oldest female or male making all the decisions

ex. In some cultures the woman must look to the man to speak

Dietary needs cultural implications

\n All attempts should be made to work around a patient's diet and accommodate nutritional requests because food may have ethnic and religious implications

always explain to the patient why certain foods should be avoided, and try your best to also work around the fasting schedules of patients

Spirituality Cultural Implications

For many patients, the spiritual component gives them the mindset needed to heal. Beliefs of the patient should not be judged and if the patient needs assistance the professional should provide care.

Allow privacy during prayer and try to use the correct terminology when referring to this.

Death cultural implications

some cultures welcome death and believe in the afterlife, others do not. Rituals surrounding death should be followed to the best of their ability

ex. Muslim patient's heads should be turned to face Mecca

ex. Japanese families would not prefer to be in the same room as the patient while Mexican families would prefer it

Some cultures believe that suicide brings shame on the family and in other cultures it may be strictly forbidden, so family members may refuse to listen to any information regarding a suicide

Medications cultural implications

actions and side effects of medicine may vary based on the ethnicity of the patient

ex. Women from Islamic and African countries with vaginal yeast infections prefer oral drugs to vaginally inserted medications

ex. Latin Americans prefer injections over oral medications, they perceive oral medications as less effective

Health care professionals should try their best to work medications around fasts and rituals

Pregnancy cultural implications

The involvement of male partners in prenatal care may vary from culture to culture, ex. in North Africa it is encouraged

Some cultures have post delivery placenta rituals which can go from consuming the placenta, to burying it in the ground

Pain management cultural implications

Some patients refuse to admit pain, as they believe it is a sign from god that a demon has entered their body

other cultures see pain as a symptom of illness, while some may see it as a symptom of weakness

Healthcare workers should always respect and listen to the patient, especially in the case of pain. They should be patient and recognize the cultural implications

Other cultural implications

• refusal to give or receive blood transfusions

• refusal to donate or receive organ donations

• refusal to place older people in nursing homes, despite inadequate care at home

• fertility control

• mental illness

Socieoeconomic factors

Family income affects health & access to health care

Upper-income groups live longer & have fewer disabilities

Poverty often leads to inadequate care of infants & children

Poor housing conditions affect health

Complementary or alternative medicine

Healing through: Nutrition, Exercise, Relaxation

Emphasis on preventive medicine

Often borrowed from the practice of ethnic or cultural groups

Keep all opinions and biases to yourself and consider prescribed medication when patient takes any herbal remedies

Other types of alternative medicine include Cutaneous stimulation, Therapeutic touch, Acupuncture, Acupressure