Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity Teresa Rogers Butler County ATC Summer 2010

Objectives • 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 • 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 • 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: • 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: • 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

Cultural Diversity