Transcript Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity
Teresa Rogers
Butler County ATC
Summer 2010
Objectives
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Students will:
List the four basic characteristics of culture
Differentiate between culture, ethnicity, and race
Identify some of the major ethnic groups in the United States
Provide an example of acculturation in the US
Create an example of how bias, prejudice, or stereotype can cause barriers to
effective relationships
Describe ways to avoid bias
Differentiate between a nuclear and extended family
Identify ways in which language, personal, space, touching, eye contact, and
gestures are affected by cultural diversity
Compare and contrast the diverse health beliefs of different ethnic/cultural groups
List five ways health care providers can show respect for an individual’s beliefs
Identify methods that can be used to show respect for cultural diversity
Culture
• The values, beliefs,
attitudes, languages,
symbols, rituals
behaviors, and customs
unique to a particular
group of people that is
passed from on
generation to another
Includes:
• Family relations
• Child rearing
• Education
• Occupational choice
• Social interaction
• Spirituality
• Religious beliefs
• Food preferences
• Health beliefs
• Health care
Culture
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Culture is learned.
Culture is shared.
Culture is social in nature.
Culture is dynamic and constantly changing.
Ethnicity
• A classification of
people based on
national origin and/or
culture.
• Members share a
common heritage,
geographic location,
social customs,
language, and beliefs.
Common Ethnic Groups
• African American
• Asian American
• European American
• Hispanic American
• Middle Eastern / Arabic
American
• Native American
Race
• Classification of people based on physical or
biological characteristics including:
– Color of skin, hair, and eyes
– Facial features
– Blood type
– Bone structure
• Cuts across multiple ethnic/cultural groups
Cultural Diversity
• Differences based on
culture, ethnicity, and
race that influence one’s
behavior, self-perception,
judgment of others, and
interpersonal
relationships
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Includes:
Family organization
Language
Personal space
Touching
Eye contact
Gestures
Health care beliefs
Spirituality
Religion
Cultural Assimilation
• Absorption of a culturally distinct group into a
dominant or prevailing culture
• Requires that a cultural group alter their
unique beliefs and behaviors and adopt the
ways of the dominant culture
• However, in the US, we are striving for a
society where cultural differences are
appreciated and respected.
Acculturation
• The process of learning the beliefs and
behaviors of a dominant culture and assuming
some of the characteristics.
• Occurs slowly over a long period of time.
• Example:
– Recent immigrants are more likely to use the
language and follow the behavior patterns of their
origin country than their children or grandchildren
Sensitivity
• The ability to recognize and appreciate the
personal characteristics of others.
• It is essential for health care professionals to
understand and respect these differences to
provide care that meet the needs of all
individuals.
Bias
• A preference that inhibits impartial judgment
of others
• Common biases:
– Age
– Education
– Physical size
– Occupation
– Sexual preference
– Gender
Prejudice
• A strong feeling or belief about a person or
subject that is formed without reviewing facts
or information
• Causes fear and distrust of others
• Interferes with interpersonal relationships
• Health care workers must be aware of our
prejudices and to make every effort to obtain
as much information about a situation as
possible
Stereotyping
• Process of assuming that everyone in a particular
group is the same
• It ignores individual characteristics and “labels”
the individual
• May occur with regard to:
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Race
Gender
Body size
Occupation
Ethnicity
Overcoming
Bias, Prejudice, and Stereotyping
• Be conscious of your own personal and
professional values and beliefs
• Learn as much as you can about different
ethnic/cultural groups
• Be sensitive to behaviors and practices that
are different from your won
• Remember that you do not have to adopt
others’ beliefs, but you must respect them
Overcoming
Bias, Prejudice, and Stereotyping
• Develop friendships with a wide variety of people
• Ask and encourage questions from others to
share ideas and beliefs
• Evaluate all information before forming an
opinion
• Be open to all differences
• Avoid offensive language and jokes
• Understand that mistakes happen. Apologize and
forgive.
Holistic Care
• Care that provides for the well-being of the
whole person
• Meets not only physical needs, but includes
social, emotional, and mental needs
• Health care workers must understand the
cultural and ethnic beliefs in order to provide
care the meet each of these needs
Family Organization
• Refers to the structure of a family and the
dominant or decision-making personal in a
family
• Nuclear family – usually consists of a mother,
father, and children or a single parent and
children
• Extended family – includes grandparents,
aunts, uncles, cousins
Language
• Based on the 2000 census, almost 20% of the
population under 65 speaks a language other
than English at home.
• Health care provides must determine a patient’s
ability to communicate and intervene to help
those who do not understand English by use of:
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Translators
Family members
Gestures or pictures
Cue cards
Personal Space
• The distance people require to feel
comfortable when interacting with others
• Varies greatly among ethnic/cultural groups
• Health care providers must be alert to a
patient’s verbal and nonverbal cues to
determine personal space
Eye Contact
• Eye contact is affected by cultural beliefs
• Lack of eye contact is usually interpreted as
“not listening” but in some cultures is a sign of
respect
• Health care workers must be alert to an
individuals comfort level when using direct
eye contact and adjust accordingly
Gestures
• Are used to communicate many things
including agreement or disagreement
• Can vary among ethnic/cultural groups
• Health care providers must be aware of how a
patient responds to gestures and avoid any
that seem to be offensive
Health Care Beliefs
• Vary widely throughout all groups
• Can affect an individuals response to health
care
• Most cultures have common conceptions
regarding:
– The cause of illness
– Ways to maintain health
– Appropriate response to pain
– Effective methods of treatment
“Western” Medicine
or Biomedical Health Care
• Based on the cause of disease and eliminating,
treating, or preventing those causes
• Providers receive training and are licensed to
practice as professionals
• Beliefs of this system include:
– Encouraging patients to learn about their illness
– Teaching self-care
– Using medications and technology to treat illness
– Teaching preventive care
Alternative Health Care Methods
• Becoming more widely accepted in the US and
includes:
– Nutritional methods – organic, herbs, vitamins
– Mind and body control methods – meditation,
hypnotherapy, biofeedback
– Energetic touch therapy – massage, acupuncture,
acupressure
– Body-movement methods - chiropractic, yoga, tai
chi
– Spiritual methods – faith healing
Spirituality
• The beliefs individuals have about themselves,
their connections with others, and their
relationship to a higher power
• Is often described as an individual’s need to
find meaning in life
• Is often expressed through religious practices,
but is not the same thing as religion
Religion
• An organized system of belief in a
superhuman power or higher power
• Are associated with a particular form or place
of worship
• May include beliefs about birth, life, illness,
death, and dietary practices
Other Belief Systems
• Atheist – a person who does not believe in
any deity
• Agnostic – an individual who believes that the
existence of God cannot be proved or
disproved
Respecting Cultural Diversity
• Each individual must be regarded as a unique
individual
• Ways to achieve this goal is to:
– Listen as patients express their beliefs
– Appreciate individual different differences
– Learn more about cultural and ethnic groups in
your area
– Recognize signs of prejudice, bias, or stereotyping