Cultural and Spiritual Aspects of Patient Care Notes

Transcultural Care

• Culture and spirituality significantly influence how patients manage their health and utilize healthcare resources.
• Nursing care that addresses patients' unique cultural and spiritual needs improves patient outcomes and the quality of care.
• Transcultural nursing involves recognizing cultural diversity and being sensitive to the cultural needs of patients and their families.

Culture

• Culture: Shared values, beliefs, and practices among a group.
• It impacts lifestyle choices such as:
  • Nutrition
  • Exercise
  • Stress management
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol or drug use
• 4 Distinguishing features:
  • Learned and acquired in a social context
  • Shared by a group
  • Incorporated into individual identities
  • Dynamic and changes with shared experiences

Religion and Spirituality

• Often used interchangeably, but distinct
• Religion:
  • A formalized system of belief and worship.
• Spirituality:
  • Concerns the spirit or soul.
  • An element of religion.

Major Religions in the U.S. and Canada

• Christianity: The most prevalent religion.
• Islam: The second-largest religious group.
• Judaism: The third-largest religious group.
• Eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Cultural Group Characteristics

• Characteristics that differentiate groups:
  • Nationality
  • Race
  • Color
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Religious affiliation
  • Ethnic groups
  • Subcultures

Developing Cultural Competence

• Cultural awareness
• Cultural sensitivity
• Cultural competence

Barriers to Cultural Competence

• Ethnocentrism
• Stereotype
• Discrimination
• Prejudice

Cultural and Ethnic Differences

• Communication
• View of time
• Organization of the family
• Nutrition
• Death and dying
• Healthcare beliefs
• Susceptibility to disease

Communication

• Language
• Nonverbal communication
  • Personal space and eye contact
• Learning key phrases
• Use of interpreters

View of Time

• Orientation to time varies
• Past, present, or future orientation

Organization of the Family

• Patriarchal
• Matriarchal
• Egalitarian
• The position of the elderly

Nutrition

• Meaning associated with food
• Learn from their family culture
• May be categorized

Death and Dying

• Autopsy & organ donation
• Cultural rituals for preparing the body for burial
• Expressions of grief

Health Care Beliefs

• Beliefs about Health, disease, illness, and treatment are culturally based
• Beliefs about illness/health
• Folk or home remedy medicine

Susceptibility to Disease

• Certain diseases are genetic
  • African Americans: HTN, sickle cell disease
  • Hispanics and American Indians: genetically susceptible to DM
• Be alert for signs of disorders that are common to a particular culture or race

Major Cultural Groups in the U.S. and Canada

• Asian/Pacific Islander Americans
• Hispanic Americans
• African Americans
• American Indians
• European Americans
• Arab Americans

Culturally Sensitive Nursing Interventions

• Use an interpreter
• Use flash cards or a phrase book in the patient’s language for common phrases
• Therapeutic diet with culturally preferred foods
• Family involvement
• Patient advocate
• Provide quiet time for prayer or meditation
• Respect requests for religious objects