Cultural And Diversity Competence In Health Care †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Cultural Competence In Health Care. Answer: Introduction Diversity defines how different we all are, we are all different in terms of background, language, religion and in many other ways. Culture plays a vital role in shaping every individuals health-related beliefs, values, and behavior. Our difference makes us unique in one way or another and it is important that we accept each other and appreciate the fact that we are different. Different people have different values and privileges, and before we judge others we need to know that we are also different in many ways, and we have different values and privileges. In the health facility, there are many patients who come for checkups and treatments, and they come from different cultures, and it is the responsibilities of the health officers/ doctors/nurses to make sure that they understand them. We should treat and care for all patients in an understanding and respectable way irrespective of their cultural background. This means that we should try to put ourselves in the position of the pati ents who are not culturally competent and understand their struggles and challenges they are facing especially in the healthcare facility. As health officers, it is vital that we are culturally competent in our expertise to make sure that all patients are cared for despite their difference because at the end of the day we are all human and deserve to be treated right. Being competent culturally requires personal attributes, knowledge, and skills and being intercultural competent can be taught. (Rassool, 2014). There are factors that can interfere with the levels of intercultural competence like the personality factors which include, good sense of self, having ideas and recognition of amenities with beliefs and values of different cultures, display sensitivity in relation to various cultures, being aware of their social norms and communicating in an understandable language to the diverse groups. Cultural and religious practices and beliefs can highly affect an individual health and wellbeing (Kronenfeld, 2016). A patient who for example, is non-English speaker female immigrant who is married and practices a different religion from that of the health officer will need a culturally competent doctor to attend to them. Such patients find a hard time at the health facilities first because of the language barrier, second because of religious beliefs and practices and third because of traditions. The health officer should be competent enough to be able to assist such kind of patient to get the required medication and treatment (O'Toole, 2012). Depending on the patient's background, for example, the above-mentioned patient, her religious beliefs can hinder her from getting treatment if she is health illiterate. Most immigrants especially those who come from the Muslim religion do not understand English, most of them never go to hospitals and they refer hospitals to be for those who are very ill or the rich, and their religion and beliefs somehow hinder them from getting medical attention (Spector, 2000). These immigrants find a hard time at the medical facilities because they are health illiterate and barely know or understand other languages like English for example. The doctors have to be culturally competent to help such kind of patients and this involves awareness and understanding of the Islamic faith and Islamic beliefs (Marsh, 2014). Health practitioners should be conversant with the implication of their spiritual and cultural values for clinic care. The fact that Muslim women are very private and conserved, it is, therefore, the nurses responsibility to be aware of the privacy and modesty, appropriate use of touch, dietary and medication use. Health practitioners need to be well trained and educated to curb these barriers for a better health care for every individual. Health literacy is very important and it is only through communication that information can be well understood (McFarland, In Wehbe-Alamah, 2015). Well trained nursed who are cultural competent have an easy time dealing with diverse patient and they are able to educate them in order to be health literate, for them to understand the importance of treatment and checkups and to help them understand their religion and relations to health care (Srivastava, 2007). By understanding and embracing diversity, it means that we have accepted everyone regardless of where they come from, who they are and we are celebrating each and every one because diversity makes us who we are. A strength-based approach to cultural competency care helps us in embracing diversity because it is the first step to achieving cultural competency (Kronenfeld, 2010). The strength-based approach is a collaboration that involves the patient and the health practitioners, this approach believes in togetherness for a better health outcome. This approach is based on the strength and not weakness; it doesnt mean that strength-based approach doesnt have weaknesses. This approach is important for the purpose of health care because of the increased attention on support directed to individual, management of ones self in chronic illness and prolonged conditions and coordination for a better outcome. There is an increase in concern and pinpointing out strengths and capacities in finding ultimate solutions for the caregivers and the patients. The strength-based approach is a solution based approach focusing on what people want to achieve instead of their reasons for seeking help (Leininger, 2005). The strength-based approach suggests that cultural competence rely on three main concepts, the first is; Cultural awareness: This involves the knowledge of understanding the similarities and differences of cultures, the effect of culture on individual beliefs and practice, and the way in which culture affects organizations. Cultural sensitivity: An individual with a positive attitude about themselves, their culture and willingness to openly talk about their cultural variation can contribute to a deeper appreciation of culture generally. Having knowledge and being comfortable with your cultural identity is a big step to being able to openly understand and learn other peoples culture. Cultural competent behavior: This involves behaving or acting in a manner that clearly shows your level of awareness and sensitivity to the order of other cultures. It is relatively important for the health practitioners to consider cultural needs of their patients when delivering cultural competent to a Muslim, for example. This is because they need to be treated with respect and understanding when supporting their individual need. This can be done by ensuring that a conversation between the caregiver and the patient or the patients family is clearly understood to make sure that their needs are met. It is the caregivers responsibility to talk sensitively with the patient about their needs, for example, a patient may give out their spiritual advisors number, and it is the nurse to come to a mutual consensus with the patient for a positive outcome. The NHMRC Four-Dimensional Model This model defines culture as a combined set of human behavior that includes belief, norms, actions, and custom of a given group. Cultural competence, therefore, involves the skills and knowledge continuously deliver great health care services that inclusively hits the target of both cultural, social, and linguistic need of a patient. This model of cultural competency is viewed from different perspectives ways for example systemic, organizational, professional and individual. The dimensions interrelate in a way that cultural competence both at an individual level and professional level is justified by the organizational and systematic need and capacity (In Purnell, 2013). Systemic- this involves policies and channels that are effective, instruments used to monitor and adequate resources are important in nurturing behaviors and practices in various stages to see if they are competent culturally. These strategies appreciate participation of the different diverse groups in issues involving their wellness and the environment. Organizational - abilities and assets needed by patient difference are all in together. A culture can be established where there is ethnic, racial competence identified as important to main function and repeatedly acknowledged and evaluated. The organization is attached to a chain of different management levels that are both cultural and linguistically different. Professional- this level acknowledges cultural competence as a crucial factor in learning and in professional development. This results in some identified professions relating their cultural competence levels to lead their professions. Individual - behaviors, ideas, and actions that define the competency of culture are adjusted and made to be very efficient by staying in a functional and supportive health facility and broader system. Health profession individuals are encouraged to work with various cultures to create a meaningful and important long-lasting health promotion programs. This model works together in all aspects to help in promoting understandings, coordination and promoting cultural diversity within health facilities for a continuous provision of healthcare to all individuals despite their ethnic, race or cultural background. Culture and diversity of individuals, should not deter them from getting health care services at any health facility (Dreachslin, Gilbert, Malone, 2013). With the embracing of diversity, a lot has changed in the health sector for the benefit of the patient. Representation puts patients at ease Embracing cultural diversity has led to the representation which in turn has put patients at ease. The government has introduced a system in which it doesnt limit individuals from certain ethical, race and cultural background to work at health facilities instead it has opened doors for individuals from all walks of life. This is encouraging and putting the patients at ease because they can relate or identify with health care providers from their own background. Improved patient satisfaction and results Understanding peoples background is very important and not making assumptions is key to understanding the fact that people come from different background and different. A patient will feel more comfortable when their health care provider understand their cultural difference and they are able to explain their test results well and their diagnosis (Storey, Howard, Gillies, 2002).. This will create good communication between the patient and their caregivers. People living in minority areas often have less health care facilities and health care providers who come from minority backgrounds go to work in those diverse areas hence increasing the doctor-patient ratio. Improved health care services Cultural diversity has led to improved health care within the health facilities, the fact that practitioners are aware of the diverse culture of different individuals they are able to communicate and understand each other by placing the patients interest and needs first. Diversity has broadened the mind of the health care providers and they are well knowledgeable on how to handle patients from different ethnic, racial and cultural background by having the basic knowledge of each individual beliefs and practices (Rose, 2013).. This has in turn brought about the good relationship between the patient and the doctor thus improved health literacy among the patients visiting health facilities. A culturally competent individual is someone who understands and acknowledges diversity, this type of a person has some knowledge about different people and different cultures (Tjale, De, 2004). A culturally competent individual knows what to say, how to say and when to say they are cautious in their selection of words and in their way of self-expression. A competent individual knows how to express themselves when communicating to different persons; they understand why everyone is different from the other and respect their place (Tseng, Streltzer, 2008). It is human to treat humanity with kindness, we are all from different walks of life and we are all human and communication is important for human communication. We should free ourselves from assumption because we may end up having a wrong perception about a certain group of people and this may not be true. It is important that we be keen with our words, actions and behaviors towards different people because we all different but sp ecial in our own kind. Conclusion In conclusion, cultural diversity is experienced in different sectors not just the health centers but even in our daily lives. How you treat an individual especially someone from a different ethnic, race or cultural background is very important. Understanding and embracing diversity is a step to closing in the cultural difference among us. Advanced training on cultural diversity has helped a lot of healthcare practitioners in dealing with their day to day patients. Access to primary health care is a right to all citizens and it is the responsibility of healthcare practitioners to make sure that all patients despite their background get equal treatment. The government has put in place policies to curb the issue of cultural diversity within the health sector and that is another big step for accepting diversity. It really doesnt matter where u come from, we should respect others as much as we expect others to respect our cultural background. References Dreachslin, J. L., Gilbert, M. J., Malone, B. 2013.Diversity and cultural competence in health care: A systems approach. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. McFarland, M. R., In Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. 2015.Leininger's culture care diversity and universality: A worldwide nursing theory. Rassool, G. H. 2014.Cultural competence in caring for Muslim patients. In Purnell, L. D. 2013.Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach. Kronenfeld, J. J. 2016.Special social groups, social factors and disparities in health and health care. Bingley, U.K: Emerald. Kronenfeld, J. J. 2010.The Impact of Demographics on Health and Healthcare: Race, Ethnicity and other Social Factors. Bradford: Emerald Group Pub. Leininger, 2005.Culture Care Diversity Universality: A Theory of Nursing. Jones Bartlett. Marsh, T. 2014.Cultural safety: Everything you need to know. Place of publication not identified: Ashgate. Spector, R. E. 2000.Cultural diversity in health and illness. New York, N.Y: Prentice Hall. O'Toole, G. 2012.Communication: Core interpersonal skills for health professionals. Sydney: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. Rose, P. R. 2013.Cultural competency for the health professional. Burlington, MA: Jones Bartlett Learning. Srivastava, R. 2007.The healthcare professional's guide to clinical cultural competence. Toronto: Mosby Elsevier. Storey, L., Howard, J., Gillies, A. 2002.Competency in healthcare: A practical guide to competency frameworks. Abingdon, U.K: Radcliffe Medical Press. Tjale, A., De, V. L. 2004.Cultural issues in health and health care: A resource book for southern Africa. Cape Town: Juta Academic. Tseng, W.-S., Streltzer, J. 2008.Cultural competence in health care. New York: Springer.