Transcript Culture and Diversity in Healthcare

CHAPTER 9
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
CULTURE, ETHNICITY, AND RACE
• Health care workers are involved with many
different people
• Respect individuality
• Be aware of factors that cause each person
to be unique
• Influence is cultural/ethnic heritage
CULTURE
• Culture- Values, beliefs, attitudes, language,
symbols, rituals, behaviors, and customs unique to a
particular group of people
• Passed from one generation to next
• Often defined set of rules
• Foundation of behavior, but variances
(continues)
CULTURE
• Culture is learned- does not just happen; it
is taught
• Culture is shared- common practices and
beliefs are shared with others in a cultural
group
• Social in nature- individuals in the group
understand appropriate behavior based on
tradition that has been passed down from
generations
• Dynamic and constantly changing- new
ideas may generate different standards for
behavior
ETHNICITY
• Classification of people based on national origin
and/or culture
• Share common heritage, geographic location,
national origin, social customs, language,
and beliefs
• Common ethnic groups
• Subgroups within larger ethnic groups
RACE
• Based on physical or biological factors
•
•
•
•
•
Color of skin, hair, and eyes
Facial features
Blood types
Bone structure
Race cuts across multiple ethnic and cultural groups
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
• Differences among people resulting from cultural,
ethnic, and racial factors
• These differences influence a person’s behavior
• Differences exist within ethnic/cultural groups
• United States called a “melting pot,” or is it more
accurately a “salad bowl?”
ACCULTURATION
• Process of learning the beliefs and behaviors of a
dominant culture and assuming some of the
characteristics
• Every individual has unique blend of characteristics
• Need to develop sensitivity to differences
BIAS, PREJUDICE, AND STEREOTYPING
• Bias: preference or inclination that inhibits impartial
judgment
• Prejudice: strong feelings or beliefs about a person
or subject; pre-judging others without reviewing
facts or information; often based
on fear
• Stereotyping: making the assumption that everyone
in a group is the same
(continues)
BIAS, PREJUDICE, AND STEREOTYPING
• Creates barriers to relationships
• Health care workers need to avoid feelings and
assumptions
• What are ways to avoid bias, prejudice, and
stereotyping?
UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL
DIVERSITY
• Cultural and ethnic beliefs will affect behavior
• Health care worker needs to be aware of these
beliefs to meet the physical, social, emotional, and
mental needs of individuals: holistic care
UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL
DIVERSITY
(CONTINUED)
• Family organization
• Nuclear- mother, father, and children
• Extended- includes nuclear family plus grandparents,
aunts, uncles and cousins
• Patriarchal versus matriarchal
• Recognition and acceptance of family organization
is essential in all aspects of the health care field
(continues)
UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL
DIVERSITY
•
•
•
•
•
•
Language
Personal space and touch
Eye contact
Gestures
Health care beliefs
Spirituality and religion
RESPECT CULTURAL DIVERSITY
• Regard each individual as unique
• Everyone adopts beliefs and forms a pattern of
behavior based on culture, ethnicity, race, life
experiences, spirituality, and religion
• Health care workers must learn to respect
differences in individuals