Cultural Diversity Culture, Ethnicity and Race. Cultural. Ethnicity & Race Health care providers must work with and provide care to many different people.

Cultural Diversity

Culture, Ethnicity and Race

Cultural. Ethnicity & Race

• Health care providers must work with and provide care to many different people and respect the unique individuality of each person.

Factors of Uniqueness

• Physical characteristics

• Family Life

• Socioeconomic status

• Religious Beliefs

• Geographical Location

Factors of Uniqueness

• Education• Occupation• Life experiences• Cultural & Ethnic heritage-

major influence on individual uniqueness.

Culture• Defined as values, beliefs,

attitudes, language, symbols, rituals, behaviors and customs unique to a particular group of people.

Culture • Passed from one generation to

another.

• Set of rules designed for living.

• Not uniform among all members, but provides a foundation for behaviors.

Culture• Culture is learned: Culture

does not just happen. It is taught and imitated by adults.

Culture• Culture is social in nature:

Individuals in the same cultural group understands appropriate behaviors based on traditions.

Culture• Culture is dynamic and

constantly changing: New ideas may generate different standards for behaviors and adapting to environmental changes.

Ethnicity• Classification of people based

on national origin and/or cultural.

• Common heritage, geographic location, social customs, language and beliefs.

Ethnic Groups & Countries

• African-Americans

• Central & South Africa

• Dominican Republic

• Haiti

• Jamaica

Ethnic Groups & Countries

• Asian-Americans

• Cambodia• China• India• Japan• Korea• Philippines

Ethnic Groups & Countries

• European- Americans

• England• France• Germany• Ireland• Poland• Russia

Ethnic Groups & Countries

• Hispanic-Americans

• Cuba

• Mexico

• Puerto Rico

• Spain

• Central & South America

Ethnic Groups & Countries

• Middle Eastern/Arab

Americans

• Egypt• Iran• Palestine• Saudi Arabia• North Africa• Middle East

Ethnic Groups & Countries

• Native Americans

• American Indians

(500 tribes)

• Eskimos

Race• Classification of people based

on physical or biological characteristics:

• Color of skin, hair, & eyes

• Facial features

• Bone structure

Cultural Diversity• When culture, ethnicity and

race influence an individual’s behavior, self-concept, judgment of others and interpersonal relationships.

Cultural Diversity• Cultural Assimilation- “melting

pot” represents the different cultures blending into the dominant culture.

• “Salad Bowl”-cultural differences are appreciated and respected.

Cultural Acculturation

• Process of learning the beliefs and behaviors and assuming some of the characteristics of the dominant culture.

Bias• Bias-preference that prevents

impartial judgment.

• Ex: Young people are physically and mentally superior to older people.

Bias• Ethnocentric-believing that

your cultural values are superior than the cultural values of others.

• Ex: Antagonizing and being unfriendly toward people from other cultures.

Prejudice• Strong feeling or belief about a

person or subject that is formed without reviewing facts or information.

• Prejudiced individuals regard their ideas or behaviors as right and other ideas or behaviors are wrong.

Prejudice• Prejudiced individuals are

frequently afraid of things that are different.

• Prejudice causes fear and distrust and interferes with interpersonal relationships.

Stereotyping• When an assumption is made

that everyone in a particular group is the same.

• Ignores individual characteristics and “labels” an individual.

Avoiding Bias, Prejudice & Stereotyping

• Barriers to effective communication and relationships with others.

• Know your own personal and professional values and beliefs.

Avoiding Bias, Prejudice & Stereotyping

• Be sensitive to behaviors and practices different from your own.

• Avoid offense jokes.

• Evaluate all information before you form an opinion.

Understanding Cultural Diversity

Health Team Relations

Understanding Cultural Diversity

• Holistic Care-provides for the well-being of the whole person.

Family Organization

• Nuclear

• Extended

Nuclear or Extended

• Hispanic American

• Native American

• Polish American

• Italian American

• African American

• British American

Family Organization

Patriarchal Matriarchal

Language

• Dominant language in U.S. is ENGLISH

• What percent of U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home?

• 20%

• Health care workers must ask questions to determine the patient’s ability to communicate.

• When possible, find a translator.

Techniques for Non-English Speaking Patients

• Speak slowly and use simple words

• Use gestures or pictures

• Use non-verbal – smile and touch

• DON’T speak louder

• Learn a few essential words and phrases

Personal Space and Touch

• Close contact vs. distant contact cultures

Stay out of my space!

Personal Space and Touch

• Arab• French & Latin

Americans• Hispanic

Americans• Gender• European &

African Americans• Asian Americans

• Cambodia• Vietnamese• Middle Eastern• Native American

Eye Contact

• European Americans• Maintaining eye contact sign of interest and

trustworthiness

Eye Contact

• What about other cultures?

Gestures

• Hand gestures mean different things in different countries.

• Health care workers must be sensitive when using hand gestures

Health Care Beliefs• Biomedical Health Care

System or “Western” System-most common health care system in the US.

• Cause of disease is based on: microorganisms, diseased cell and the aging process.

Health Care Beliefs• Eliminating the microorganism,

conquering the disease process and preventing the aging process becomes the focus.

• Health care providers in the US are biomedically trained.

Health Care Beliefs• Encourage patients to learn about

their illnesses.• Inform patients about terminal

diseases.• Teaching self-care and preventive

care.• Use medications to treat and/or

cure diseases or illnesses.

Health Care Beliefs

• All individuals have the right to choose the type of health care system and method of treatment they feel is best.

• Health care providers must respect this right.

Spirituality & Religion

• Spirituality-the beliefs individuals have about themselves, their connections with others and their relationship with a higher power.

Spirituality & Religion

• Religion-an organized system of beliefs in a superhuman power or higher power.

• Atheist-is a person who does not believe in the deity.

• Agnostic-is a person who believes that the existence of God cannot be proved or disproved.