Cultural Competence In Health Care

Cultural competency aids in closing the “disparities gap” in health care. ("OMH," 2012, para. 2) In doing so, health professionals and their clients are better able to discuss concerns without cultural differences getting in the way of effective communication and problem solving. Being respectful of and sensitive to the client’s health beliefs, culture, values, and diverse needs can bring positive outcomes within treatment and patient care. After all, is it not the main job of the health care provider to ensure patient trust? Open forms of communication when dealing with client issues can only be provided if the patient is comfortable with his provider and believes his

It is important for policy makers to create services that are culturally sensitive since the United States is a culturally diverse country; moreover, Healthcare professionals needs to be culturally competent so that they can guide policy makers in making sustainable systems for individual communities. “Efforts to improve cultural competence among health care professionals and organizations would contribute to improving the quality of health care for all consumers” (GeorgeTown Health Policy Institutes, 2004, para 31). Language barrier is another culture issue that prevents the community from getting the care that they deserve. “Cultural and language differences and socioeconomic status interact with and contribute to low health literacy, defined as the inability to understand or act on medical/therapeutic instructions” (Shaw, Huebner, Armin, Orzech, & Vivian, 2009, p.1). There should be health policy addressing this issue because of the confusion and inappropriate treatment that many

Critically analyse one of the main challenges, barriers, and enablers for cultural competence in health care when working in a cross-cultural environment.

Cultural competency is the capacity of people or services to include ethnic/cultural considerations into all aspects of their work related to health promotion, disease prevention and other and other healthcare interventions (Cultural competence is important for several reasons, (Purnell, 2008a).First, it can contribute in the development of culturally sensitive practices which can reduce barriers that effect treatment in healthcare settings. Second, it can promote understanding, which is detrimental in cultural competence assessment, to know whom, the individuals known as the primary care provider and whom they view as the primary healer, can attribute to the promotion of trust and increase the person’s interest in participating

Cultural competency is secure, respectful, reciprocal relationships and partnerships, which respects for diversity and obey expectations and equity. In today’s society, cultural competency is quite important to the worldwide healthcare due to the cultural differences. In Melbourne, Australia, Monash Health is a community service in the local government area (LGA) of Monash. In order to demonstrate the features and importance of cultural competency, details of this community (Monash) are going to be described, for example, the main countries of birth, demographic composition, languages spoken and organizations and services. The cultural characteristics and cultural values of a prominent cultural community in Monash, the Chinese community,

1. Some of the obstacles considered is a role in cultural competency that includes understanding and respecting the culture, race, social, emotional practices and attitudes towards health and Western medicine. When using an interpreter for Mrs. H, it is professional to speak directly to the mother rather than the translator. Speaking at a slow pace, in short sentences and clarifying her understanding after each main point. Avoid medical language, colloquial speech and frequent hand gestures which can be confusing for Mrs. H. Lastly, thank the interpreter and answer any questions remembering that silence is a great way to reflect and ask questions for mom (Wong, Hockenberry, & Perry, 2014).

Cultural competency is especially important in the health care setting, where barriers to communication and access to quality care can result in delayed diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, or worse. Cultural competence involves both awareness and knowledge about other cultures. Cultural competence requires acknowledging that culture and ethnicity guide and affect behavior, and that all people are cultural beings (Betancourt et al.,2010). Many studies of cultural competence training have found that it has a beneficial effect on the attitudes, knowledge, and skills of physicians and on patient

This project is being developed to improve patient outcomes by decreasing barriers when caring for people from different cultures. Nurses may face a rapidly changing environment and care for patients from diverse backgrounds. Cultural beliefs can promote or impede health care, with access to services affecting the quality of life. Sociocultural diversity is growing along with a need for increased efforts in reaching health equality. Diverse dynamics among cultures can impact effective healthcare creating a need for multifaceted interventions. This diversity comes with inequalities and the need for cultural competence to promote health. Strategies need to be created and implemented to address differences between western medicine and other cultures

Communication with patients can bridge the divide between medicine and the beliefs and/or practices that make up patients ' values. Language and cultural barriers should be addressed so that cultural competence and patient centeredness are meet; this includes, “ethnic heritage, nationality of family origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status” (Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness in the Delivery of Health Care, 2011). Every encounter with patients provides an opportunity to learn more about patients ' culture; even “reaching out to community leaders” can be beneficial to “understanding cultural practices and accessing language services” (Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness in the Delivery of Health Care, 2011). Patient centeredness has become a way to “individualize quality, to complement the healthcare quality movement’s focus on process measures and performance benchmarks with a return to emphasis on personal relationships and customer service” (Saha, Beach, & Cooper, 2008). Cultural competence is to “balance quality, to improve equity and reduce disparities by specifically improving care for” people of all nationalities (Saha, Beach, & Cooper, 2008). To help achieve this”

Cultural sensitivity is being aware of different cultures and customs and beliefs of other people and having the skills to interact with others on a daily basis without hindering their cultural beliefs and traditions. As health care professionals, it is very important to have cultural sensitivity and competence so that we can overcome the barriers to communication as well as providing adequate treatment to a patient. In health care facilities, we may come across many people who are from different backgrounds, social classes, race, and ethnicity. In order to provide proper care, a health care professional must be competent enough to recognize and respect patients who come from different culture than their own. In a pharmacy work setting, pharmacists

• Understanding other cultures does not automatically occur, it takes guidance and the ability to critically reflex that individuals can move away from judgment and to be open to new ideas and realities in order for health care providers to provide an acceptable culturally diverse care to their patients (Ong-Flaherty, C. 2015).

First, all language barriers need to be addressed. If the patient doesn?t speak English or speaks minimal English this can cause major anxiety to the patient and can become a hindrance to providing optimal care. Using a translator will help build rapport with the patient and it will also give the patient the opportunity to discuss all their concerns with the practitioner. It?s also important to include the patient?s family in the discussion regarding

Cultural awareness and identification is among the different ways we the health care providers could provide a positive and quality care to our patients. I have a patient from the same country I came from and speak the same language as I do. She is a retired registered nurse back home and relocated to the States few months ago and the son was admitted for new onset of Bipolar manic with psychotic features. It was a terrifying moment for her as a single mother of 5. It was a difficult time caring for her son because throughout the whole period the son was admitted in the mental health facility, she feel very sad and feels ashamed to speak to her fellow African women. She has the reason to believe so because in the part of Africa where she

The analogy mentioned is insightful. Cultural sensitivity is critical in healthcare functionality. The teaching of miroagressions positively influences the promotion of cultural sensitivity within society. It is essential to educate communities on cultural awareness and its role in healthcare interactions. Understanding the influence of culture on patient perspectives assists in building the credibility of healthcare professionals. Overall, the training of healthcare professionals and patients on the understanding of cultural awareness could improve healthcare experiences. The training mentioned focuses on the cultural and self-awareness of healthcare professionals Do you think that the self-awareness and cultural awareness of

It is essential that the health care provider be acquainted with cultural emerges and unearth methods to transmit lucidly, and comprehend adept cultural competent to deliver appropriate care to arrays of a multicultural society (Burns et al., 2013).