Cultural diversity

1. Unit 6 Cultural diversity

2. Cultural Diversity (Don’t Write) • Health care providers must work with and provide care to many different people. They must also respect the individuality of each person. • A major influence on any individual’s uniqueness is the person’s cultural/ethnic heritage

3. Cultural Diversity (Don’t Write) • Factors of individual uniqueness: • Physical characteristics • Family life • Socioeconomic status • Religious beliefs • Geographical location • Education • Occupation • Life experiences

4. Cultural Diversity (Write) • Culture • Values, beliefs, attitudes, languages, symbols, rituals, behaviors, and customs which are unique to a particular group of people and passed on from one generation to the next • Set of Rules • Blueprint or general design for living

5. Cultural Diversity • Culture • Influenced by culture: • Family relations • Child rearing (raising) • Education • Occupational choice • Social interactions • Spirituality • Religious beliefs

6. Cultural Diversity • Culture • Influenced by culture: • Food preferences • Health beliefs • Health care • Culture is NOT uniform among all members within a cultural group, but does provide a foundation for behavior

7. Cultural Diversity • Culture • All cultures have 4 basic characteristics: • Culture is learned • Culture does not just happen • It is taught to others • Children learn patterns of behavior by imitating adults and developing attitudes accepted by others

8. Cultural Diversity • Culture • All cultures have 4 basic characteristics: • Culture is shared: • Common practices and beliefs are shared with others in a cultural group • Culture is social in nature: • Individuals in a cultural group understand appropriate behavior based on traditions passed from generation to generation

9. Cultural Diversity • Culture • All cultures have 4 basic characteristics: • Culture is dynamic & constantly changing: • New ideas may generate different standards for behavior • Needs of the group are met through change

10. Cultural Diversity • Ethnicity • Classification of people based on natural origin and/or culture • Share common heritage, national origin, social customs, language and beliefs • Even though every individual in the group may not practice all beliefs, the individual is still influenced by other members of the group

11. Cultural Diversity • Ethnicity • Common groups in U.S. & countries of origin: • African American: Central & South African countries, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica • Asian American: Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Indonesia & Pacific Island countries, Japan, Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, Vietnam

12. Cultural Diversity • Ethnicity • Common groups in U.S. & countries of origin: • European American: England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, Scotland • Hispanic American: Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, & Spanish speaking countries in Central and South America

13. Cultural Diversity • Ethnicity • Common groups in U.S. & countries of origin: • Middle Eastern/Arab American: Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen & other North African & Middle Eastern countries • Native American: Over 500 tribes of American Indians and Eskimos

14. Cultural Diversity • Ethnicity • It is important to recognize that within each of the ethnic groups there are numerous subgroups, each with it’s own lifestyle and beliefs. • Example: • European American group includes Italians and Germans; each has different languages and lifestyles

15. Cultural Diversity • Race • Classification of people based on physical, or biological characteristics • Color of skin, hair, eyes • Facial features • Blood type • Bone structure • Frequently used to label a group of people and explain patterns of behavior

16. Cultural Diversity • Race • Values, beliefs and behaviors learned from the ethnic/cultural group that generally account for behaviors attributed to race (Example Below) • Blacks from Africa and blacks from the Caribbean share many of the same physical characteristics, but they represent different ethnic groups and have different cultural beliefs and values

17. Cultural Diversity • Race • There are also different races present in most ethnic groups • White & black Hispanics • White African & Carribbeans • White & Black Asians

18. Cultural Diversity • Cultural Diversity • Differences among people resulting from cultural, ethnic and racial factors • Cultural Assimilation • The absorption of other cultures into the dominant culture • The U.S. seen as “melting pot” • Requires that cultural groups alter beliefs and behaviors (mercy killings)

19. Cultural Diversity • Acculturation • Learning the beliefs and behaviors of the dominant culture • Assuming some characteristics of the dominant culture • Occurs slowly over long periods of time • Sensitivity • The ability to recognize and appreciate the personal characteristics of others

20. Cultural Diversity • Sensitivity • Example: In Native American and Asian cultures, calling a patient by their first name is disrespectful • Health care workers will always address patients (or residents) by their last name, unless the patient requests to be addressed by their first name or nickname.

21. Cultural Diversity • Bias • A preference that prevents impartial judgment • Ethnocentric: believe that their ethnic group is supreme above all other groups • May antagonize or be unfriendly toward people from other cultures

22. Cultural Diversity • Bias • Examples of common biases: • Age: young people believing that they are physically and mentally superior to older people • Education: college-educated individuals believing that they are superior to uneducated individuals • Economic: wealthy people believing that they are superior to the less wealthy

23. Cultural Diversity • Bias • Examples of common biases: • Physical appearance: thin people believing that they are superior to obese people • Occupation: physicians believing that nurses are inferior medical professionals • Sexual preference: Heterosexuals believing that homosexuals are inferior • Gender: Men believing women are inferior.

24. Cultural Diversity • Prejudice • Strong feeling about a person or subject; to prejudge • Formed without reviewing facts or information • They are right; everyone else is wrong • ALL individuals are prejudice to some degree

25. Cultural Diversity • Stereotyping • Assumption made that everyone in a particular group is the same • Individual characteristics are ignored • Individuals are “labeled” • Example: • “All blondes are dumb”

26. Cultural Diversity • Stereotyping • There is NO room for stereotyping of any kind in health care. • Avoid jokes • With patients: Be open about subjects you would normally not even discuss • Evaluate all information before you form an opinion • You are a professional

27. Cultural Diversity • Family Organization • Families vary in their composition and in the roles assumed by family members • Two Types: • Nuclear family: mother, father, children (biological or “step”) • People outside family usually care for children, sick or elderly

28. Cultural Diversity • Family Organization • Two Types: • Extended family: nuclear family plus grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins • Families tend to take care of their children, sick or elderly • Hispanic / Asian Cultures

29. Cultural Diversity • Family Organization • Patriarch / Matriarch: • Patriarchal Family: Father or oldest male is authority figure • Will make most health care decisions for all family members • Asian / Middle Eastern cultures believe that the male has the power and authority and women are expected to be obedient • Husbands makes medical decisions for wife

30. Cultural Diversity • Family Organization • Patriarch / Matriarch: • Matriarchal Family: Mother or oldest female is authority figure • Will make most health care decisions for all family members • Mother and father may make some decisions together • “I have to check with my husband (wife) before making a decision.”

31. Cultural Diversity • Language • 20% of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home • Different dialects • May speak English, but not read it. • Find Translator

32. Cultural Diversity • Language • For health care workers: • Nonverbal communication is very important(smile, gentle touch - if culturally appropriate) • Communication boards • Most states require that any medical permit requiring a written signature be printed in the patient’s primary language

33. Cultural Diversity • Language • For health care workers – DO NOT: • Express frustration because the patient does not speak English • Be offended if patient or family members communicate in their primary language, even if the patient speaks English

34. Cultural Diversity • Language • For health care workers – DO NOT: • Speak inappropriately to other staff about a patient (EVER) because you think they do not understand what you are saying. • Laugh or make fun of the words or foreign language spoken • Forget that your patient does not understand, is likely scared & needs help

35. Cultural Diversity • Personal Space and Touch • Distance that people require to feel comfortable while interacting with others • Varies greatly among different cultures • Close Contact vs. Distant Contact Cultures

36. Cultural Diversity • Personal Space and Touch • Close Contact Cultures • Arabs: touch, feel, and smell people with whom they interact • French and Latin Americans: stand very close together while interacting • Hispanics: hugs and handshakes to greet others

37. Cultural Diversity • Personal Space and Touch • Distant Contact Cultures • European and African: may shake hands as a greeting, but want 2-6 feet separation during interaction • Asians: stand close together, but not touch; kissing, hugging seen as very intimate acts and are NEVER done in public.

38. Cultural Diversity • Personal Space and Touch • Distant Contact Cultures • Cambodians: all members of opposite sex – even if related – never touch each other; only parent can touch the head of a child • Vietnamese: only elderly to touch head of a child because head is considered sacred

39. Cultural Diversity • Personal Space and Touch • Distant Contact Cultures • Middle Eastern: men may not touch females who are not immediate family; only men can shake hands with other men; may cause female patients to refuse care from male nurse. • Native Americans: value personal space as important; will only lightly touch other person’s hand when greeting

40. Cultural Diversity • Eye Contact • Europeans: regard eye contact as sign of interest and trustworthiness • Asians: consider direct eye contact rude • Native Americans: use peripheral vision to avoid direct eye contact • Hispanic & African Americans: brief eye contact, but then look away as a sign of respect and attentiveness

41. Cultural Diversity • Gestures • US: nodding head up & down means “yes” and side-to-side for “no” • India: head motions for “yes” and “no are exact opposite • US: pointing is accepted • Asian & Native Americans: pointing is seen as a serious threat

42. Cultural Diversity • Gestures • US: “OK” hand gesture • Asian Culture: can be seen as an insult

43. End of Lecture