MEDA 112

Chapter 11A cultural Perspective for Health

Professionals

How to tell if you’re an American

• Playboy• Big Bands• John Wayne• Tony Hawk• Apple Pie & Baseball• Run, Forrest, run• Hippie• Christmas Tree

• Woodstock• Did somebody say

McDonalds?• Mosh pit• Reality TV• Hip Hop• There she is….Miss

America

Vignette: Who is the healer?

• Page 153• In a Southwestern region of

the United States, a Native American healer was called at the same time as an ambulance. Before the ambulance crew could begin their work, the healer performed a “purification” or “healing ritual” on the afflicted person.

Cultural Diversity

• Cultural differences exist within cultures

• Culture defines who we are, how we think, what is right/wrong and how we are expected to behave

Cultural Congruent Care Levels

• Level 1: person is unaware they lack knowledge

• Level 2: person become aware they lack knowledge

• Level 3: person begins to learn about diversity

• Level 4: person automatically provides culturally sensitive care

Tips

• Identifying acceptable behavior within patient’s culture helps to understand patient reactions to illness.

• Culture also influences whether person will/will not talk about symptoms/emotions with practitioner

• Culture accounts for what people believe causes illness

• Culture also influences methods of maintaining, protecting and restoring health (including physical, mental and spiritual aspects)