Cultural respect benefits consumers, stakeholders, and communities and supports positive health outcomes . Because several elements can influence health communication—including behaviors, language, customs, beliefs, and perspectives—cultural respect is also critical for achieving accuracy in medical research.
How does culture influence healthcare?
Culture influences healthcare at all levels, including communications and interactions with doctors and nurses, health disparities, health care outcomes, and even the illness experience itself . People in some cultures believe illness is the will of a higher power, and may be more reluctant to receive health care.
Why is cultural awareness important in healthcare?
Cross-cultural awareness makes healthcare providers more open to unfamiliar attitudes, practices, or behaviors . It also improves collaboration with patients and helps them respond with flexibility.
What is culture in health care?
Culture can be defined as the “ personal identification, language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions that are often specific to ethnic, racial, religious, geographic, or social groups .”For both patients and providers, healthcare is defined through a cultural lens.An ...
How does cultural diversity affect healthcare?
Benefits of Diversity in Healthcare
Increased provider comfort levels : Studies show that students who have trained at diverse schools are more comfortable treating patients from ethnic backgrounds other than their own. Boosted creativity and innovation: A wide range of perspectives can lead to better solutions.
What are some cultural issues in health care?
They are the attitudes or internalized stereotypes that can affect healthcare professionals’ perceptions, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner that often contribute to unequal treatment of people based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, and other characteristics .
How does cultural safety enhance patient care?
Where cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity assist practitioners in recognising their personal attitudes and prejudices in a clinical context, cultural safety provides a framework for engagement with patients so that patients can assert power and control over their own health and wellbeing .
What is an example of cultural competence in healthcare?
Examples of Cultural Competence in Nursing
Speaking in terms that are easy for the patient to follow and understand . Not judging or disregarding a patient’s belief and religious background, but encouraging them to do what works best for them. Empathizing with the patient at all times.
It may be first be useful to look at a definition of culture: -‘Culture can be described as characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people . That include, shared patterns of behaviours, interactions, thought concepts and understanding or more simply put ‘how things are done around here’.
How does culture affect healthcare delivery?
Cultural health beliefs affect how people think and feel about their health and health problems, when and from whom they seek health care, and how they respond to recommendations for lifestyle change, health-care interventions, and treatment adherence.
How can healthcare promote cultural diversity?
A review of culturally competent healthcare industry systems identified 5 interventions to improve cultural competence: (1) gear programs to recruit and retain diverse staff members , (2) cultural competency training for healthcare providers, (3) use of interpreter services to ensure individuals from different ...
Provide person-centered care and work in a non-judgemental manner . Employees should be encouraged to value diversity and respect the attributes that make people different. Care plans should be personalised to reflect the likes, dislikes, personal history and beliefs of each individual.
What are five points of cultural diversity in healthcare?
The scale consisted of five different culturally competent domains: (1) paradigm (ability to adapt to a different type of care), (2) communication (ability to provide information to patients in clear language), (3) specificity (ability to provide specific care for specific groups), (4) organization (ability of the ...
How do you provide culturally safe care in nursing?
Culturally safe and respectful practice is not a new concept. Nurses and midwives are expected to engage with all people as individuals in a culturally safe and respectful way, foster open, honest and compassionate professional relationships, and adhere to their obligations about privacy and confidentiality .
How can you promote culturally safe services and programs?
- reflecting on one’s own culture, attitudes and beliefs about ‘others’
- clear, value free, open and respectful communication.
- developing trust.
- recognising and avoiding stereotypical barriers.
- being prepared to engage with others in a two-way dialogue where knowledge is shared.
How can cultural competence improve health equity?
Research has demonstrated that cultural competence training can improve health care provider knowledge, understanding, and skills in treating patients from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds .
How can cultural barriers to health care be overcome?
- Ask questions that demonstrate respect and concern.
- Ask questions that help reveal the patient’s understanding of the health issue at hand.
- Explain their own perceptions.
- Acknowledge differences in perceptions.
- Begin to negotiate treatment plans.
What are 3 examples of strategies to help improve culturally competent care?
- Perform a cultural competence self-assessment. ...
- Obtain a certificate in cultural competence. ...
- Improve communication and language barriers. ...
- Directly engage in cross-cultural interactions with patients. ...
- Participate in online chats and networks.
