NURS3803 Module 3: Culture and Health Promotion

How does culture influence healthcare?

- how people understand health concepts

- how people take care of their health

- how people receive medical advice

- health decisions

- when and from whom they seek care

What can a healthcare provider do to provide culturally sensitive care?

- learn from their patients

- do not stereotype

- learn from other sources

- explore other cultures

What is upstream thinking?

used to focus on interventions that promote health or prevent illness, as opposed to medical treatment models that focus on care after an individual becomes ill

How can upstream thinking be helpful in addressing health outcomes?

it can help determine the cause of the illness so that we can treat the patient at the source of the problem

How is upstream thinking applied to the nursing process?

- when assessing a patient, nurses can ask questions that help us understand the cause of a problem

- using upstream thinking can help nurses make an accurate diagnosis

- make plans based off of the cause of the problem as opposed to just the signs and symptoms

How do childhood experiences influence health?

- traumatic childhood experiences can influence development of mental health disorders

- trauma in childhood can increase stress which can lead to stress-induced illnesses

- what children are taught about health can influence their health choices into adulthood

What are the commonly accepted determinants of health?

- childhood experiences

- housing

- education

- social support

- family income

- employment

- communities

- access to health services

How does housing influence health?

- houses with a lot of lead can cause lead-poisoning

- crowding within the home can decrease health

- housing in areas with high pollution can increase asthma and cancer risks

How does education influence health?

- shapes future occupational opportunities and earning potential

- better-educated people are more equipped to access resources that promote health

How does family income influence health?

- provides means for purchasing health care

- higher incomes can provide better nutrition, housing, schooling, and recreation

How does social support influence health?

isolation and lack of engagement in social networks are strong predictors of health

How does employment influence health?

- employed people have better health than unemployed people

- lower-status jobs exposure workers to both physical and psychosocial risks

How do communities influence health?

- damaging agents in one's community can cause health problems

- crowding and noise exposure can lead to poor long-term memory and hypertension

- pollutants can influence asthma

What does Rebecca Onie identify as the "prescription" for malnutrition in her TED talk?

food

What does Rebecca Onie identify as the measure of success for healthcare in her TED talk?

by the diseases prevented and not the diseases cured

How does behavior and lifestyle influence health?

- behavioral factors account for about half of premature mortality

- tobacco use is the greatest behavioral risk for premature mortality

- nutrition choices can help prevent or lead to diseases

- exercise habits can influence health

- high alcohol consumption can lead to diseases

What are some strategies for overcoming cultural/language barriers in health teaching?

- learn about the cultural traditions of the patients you care for

- pay attention to body language

- ask open-ended questions

- remain nonjudgmental

Generally, how are health beliefs, decision making, and values influenced by culture for Asian populations?

- avoids disagreeing with recommendations of health care professionals

- mental illness or behavior that indicates lack of self-control may produce shame or guilt in Chinese culture

- those from India and Pakistan are reluctant to accept a diagnosis of severe emotional illness

- Vietnamese culture uses mystical beliefs to explain physical and mental illness

- health is viewed as the result of a harmonious balance between poles of hot and cold in Vietnamese culture

- Vietnamese don't readily accept Western mental health counseling and interventions

- Russians tend to mistrust US medical care

- Russian patients may find it difficult to question a physician and talk openly about medical concerns

Generally, how are health beliefs, decision making, and values influenced by culture for Hispanic populations?

- many view illness as God's will or divine punishment for sinful behavior

- may prefer to use home remedies

- may consult a folk healer known as a curandero

Generally, how are health beliefs, decision making, and values influenced by culture for Muslim populations?

- often have very specific privacy, modesty, and dietary requirements

- may need to avoid medication that contains alcohol

How does access to health services influence health?

- those without health insurance receive less medical care

- less access to healthcare means people are not being screened for potential illness

- people who don't have access to healthcare may see their conditions continue to worsen

What are health beliefs of Western industrialized societies?

- see diseases as a result of natural scientific phenomena

- advocate medical treatments that combat microorganisms

Which of the following best describes the concept of cultural competence in healthcare?

a. The ability to speak multiple languages fluently.

b. The ability to understand and interact effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds.

c. The ability to provide health education in a way that is universally accepted.

d. The ability to develop medications that suit all cultural groups.

b. The ability to understand and interact effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Why is it important for healthcare providers to understand the cultural beliefs about illness in different communities?

a. To assume that all individuals within a cultural group have the same beliefs and practices.

b. To avoid providing any treatment that may contradict cultural beliefs.

c. To ensure that health interventions are relevant, accepted, and effective for the patient.

d. To impose standard Western medical practices regardless of cultural context.

c. To ensure that health interventions are relevant, accepted, and effective for the patient.

In some cultures, illness may be viewed as a result of:

a. A lack of access to healthcare resources.

b. A punishment or imbalance caused by spiritual or moral causes.

c. Poor health habits and neglect of personal hygiene.

d. A failure to follow medical advice.

b. A punishment or imbalance caused by spiritual or moral causes.