Characteristic Pattern of Attitudes Shared by Population Discussion
Discussion 1 1. Yosniel Gonzalez Effective communication is very essential especially in organizations that provide services to its individuals. For that reason, in a health care setting, it is important for health care professionals acknowledge and understand other people’s cultural difference so that they can provide quality health care to individuals. Consequently, one of the best communication strategy medical providers can adopt, is taking some time to learn other people’s language. By doing so, health experts can easily understand the health complaints of patients who are not exposed to common languages which are known by many people. Moreover, when medical experts learn other people’s languages the productivity of the organization will be improved since communication will flow effortlessly (Silverman et al., 2016). Studies have shown that many people prefer seeking medical treatments in health care facilities that establish an ambiance that holds up a platform of diversity. In areas where culture is highly diversified, health care professionals need to be good active listeners and practice on keeping an open mind. Typically, patients feel comfortable when they get doctors who are able to give them the ultimate attention. In fact, according to (Nardon et al., 2011) for an organization to be successful, the most important thing is to accept other people cultural differences by always trying to listen to some of their beliefs. When it comes to families, health care professionals should strive to maintain healthy and long lasting correlations with them, this would help medical experts in earning respect from the families and confide in them. Also, health care providers can use good communicators from families as their interpreters so that they can be explained with certain statements which may seem difficult to comprehend. Therefore, health care professionals need to be vigilant when selecting different methods of communication. Medical experts should use face to face type of communication which is considered to be the most effectual method of transferring information from one individual to another. 2. Tenzing Kunchok Every individual has their own reasons for believing in their culture, values, norms and the treatment methods used, since it has been passed down from their elders/or the cultural treatment method has been successful. It’s true that each and every healthcare professionals will not be able to know all the details of all cultures, but it is necessary to learn and know at least the basics in order to get started. Also taking the initiative to learn the language that is mostly used by the patients can help in communication. It needs to be understood that along with respect to the patient’s culture the healthcare professionals need to learn the receptivity of the patient towards the healthcare treatment and recommendations when providing education (Falvo, 2019). Through effective communication (if there is a language barrier than the use of a qualified interpreter) we need to gather information on what the patient wants and how the treatment plans can be incorporated that are consistent with their values (AHRQ,2015). Every individual is different, and stereotyping because of their same culture needs to be avoided. For instance, a muslim female living in USA is fine with having a PAP smear done by a male health provider when compared to a muslim female who recently arrived to USA. 3. Katreina Steward Living in British Columbia (Canada), I have had to become familiar with the Sikh faith and people, as they are very common in my area. Before moving to Canada, I grouped them into the large population/culture grouping of Indians (India), and knew very little about their culture. In learning more about their faith and culture, a majority of the Sikh population comes from a province in India called Punjab and can speak one or a combination of Punjabi, English or Hindi (Fraser Health Authority, 2013). It would be important to examine their English proficiency as well as their health literacy level before beginning patient education with a patient of Sikh faith. As for family, they typically have a very strong presence in each others lives. This would be important, as all the family may wish to be educated or involved in as much care as possible. Medical decision making may also include the family, friends, dependents or those they are dependent on (Fraser Health Authority, 2013). Culturally, it is important to know that the Sikhs place high value on modesty and may wish to have a same-gender nurse or doctor (Fraser Health Authority, 2013). This is critically important, as they may feel uncomfortable if this is not addressed before education, which would greatly interfere with the efficiency of the education itself. Lastly, as for the method of communication, extensive explanation if doing any physical demonstrations or anything invasive is important, especially if a same-gender staff member cannot be granted (Fraser Health Authority, 2013). With the Sikh culture, it is important to ask permission from the patient or family to ensure smooth care, as there are many different sub-cultures that have different allowances. Discussion 2 1. Katreina Steward Culture is defined as “the characteristic pattern of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors shared by members of a society or population” (Falvo, pg. 161, 2011). Ethnicity is defined as “a common social and cultural heritage passed on to each successive generation” (Falvo, pg. 167, 2011). Lastly, acculturation is defined as “the individual’s adaptation to the customs, values, and behaviors of a new culture” (Falvo, pg. 168, 2011). In comparison, these three terms are linked in that they all reference a patient’s set of beliefs and their lifestyle, which is important to competent patient care in the health care world. Knowing a patient’s culture (like important rituals or prayer times to be observed), ethnicity (a means of determining which cultures match commonly with which ethnicities), and acculturation (if the patient has adopted any Western culture pieces or values that would impact care), are essential to treating the whole patient, both physically and spiritually. They are different in that knowing one does not necessarily mean the other two can be assumed. For instance, a nurse may have an adult patient that comes into the ER unconscious accompanied by his parents, who speak limited English and appear to be Japanese in culture/ethnicity. Seeing this, the nurse might assume that the patient is similar to his parents in the three terms above; however, when the patient wakes, the nurse discovers that the patient speaks perfect English with a southern accent and does not wish to abide by his parents’ cultural customs commonly seen in their culture. 2. Nadine Tyson Culture, Ethnicity, and Acculturation are very important in educating patients. Health care professionals need to know the differences between them because patients culture, ethnicity, and acculturation are always different. Culture is the influence society has on a person (Lindblad, Ernestam, Van Citters, Lind, Morgan & Nelson, 2017). Ethnicity describes the genetic background of a person. Acculturation is described by change in the world. Health care providers can run into several problems when it comes to these topics. Some of these problems are no experience, biases, categorizing patients to specific cultures and not realizing there is a difference and that people from all over can look the same. Health care providers are in charge of treating patients and in order to treat someone effectively we have to get to know them. This also means getting to know them as an individual and include background, ethnicity and where they live. We have to remember just because someone looks a certain way docent mean they are. We as health care professionals must learn to control our biases and beliefs when we do not know or understand the patient. The best way to get to know a new person is to talk to them. 3.Samantha Harrison Culture is a way of life. It is an integrated patter of behavioral norms that are present in human society. It is not a newfound set of values, but a set that is transmitted from generation to generation. Culture is not transmitted through genes, but through symbols. It contains various races such as African, Asian, and Russian. Cultural wars that are established are often related due to conflict between values and beliefs of two opposing groups. It is classified based on individual’s beliefs and values as it pertains to their religion, language, livelihood, and spirituality (Favio, 2019). Ethnicity is similar to culture, however it is not taught by generations. It is a common tradition that belongs to a social group and identified based on shared nationality or traditions. For example, Indian Americans are an ethnicity. As ethnicity was recognized in the 19th century, it is embodied into culture and genetic background. Individuals that share the same ethnicity share the same rituals, language, cuisines, and cultural attitudes (Favio, 2019). These individuals are attached to a specific group. It is about where you are from and not what you look like. It is based off of a geographic region that is able to conform to practices such as customs, religion, and heritage. These people are able to identify established on a common ancestral, social experiences, and cultures. Acculturation is a modification of the culture as it attempts to merge together social groups related to a prolonged exposure. It is the ability to adopt values from other cultures that hold the majority in the community. Acculturation serves as a continuous process to adopt a culture that is not the individuals (Favio, 2019). For example, a family from Mexico travels to USA and embarks on a journey of acculturation as the family is forced to modify their own culture with that of America. All of these involve behaviors, beliefs, and values of daily living. They are all linked into specific values that are essential to the individual whom is seeking care. Plan of care and treatment is based on individualized beliefs and not assumed ideations. For example, a Muslim woman may not practice the belief to pray five times a day as her mother does. It is essential to identify the patient’s wishes by asking the right questions. Health care professionals should not assume that people abide by rituals due to what they look like but by who they present.
