In many countries, the population consists of many nationalities; some are more diverse than others. Cultural and Ethnic considerations should be taken into account and respected. To my knowledge, Cultural Considerations has not really had a thread devoted to this topic, yet it is an issue that may have an impact on the course of a pandemic.
Culture is loosely defined as the totality of socially transmitted behavioral patterns, expression of arts, beliefs (voiced or not), values, customs, and thought characteristics of a population of people that guide their view of the world and decision-making in their lives. These patterns may be explicit or implicit, are primarily learned and transmitted within the family, are shared by most members of the culture, and are emergent phenomena that may change in response to global phenomena. Culture is largely unconscious and has powerful influences on health and illness.
Consider the health practices of people of different heritage… or their death and burial practices. Look at what we have learned just by translating news in the Indonesian Thread. They seek cures from the village healer. They do not always seek help from a hospital or physician. Some would rather take medicinal herbs before they would take “western medicine”. For their deceased loved ones, they wash the bodies, and bury as soon as possible. There is much touching of the dead, but they (for the most part) do not allow autopsies.
Some cultural aspects of individuals or groups are actually religious in nature. Many cultural aspects are traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Cultural diversity is dependant on many things and tends to be individualized when you get down to the specifics. Factors that may contribute to this would be how and where they were raised, where they reside now, the length of time the person has been outside the influence of their native culture, the age of the person, their exposure to other cultures, etc.
Even though the individual(s) should be respected for their beliefs, sometimes it is difficult to understand the why’s and what’s of someone else’s culture when it may be vastly different from our own. Understanding a culture may also allow some insight into how we can integrate individual’s beliefs into any interventions that may be needed to mitigate the impact of a pandemic.
Your insight into the following cultural norms may prove to be beneficial in implementing those interventions.
PLEASE NOTE:
I will try to go thru the “list” alphabetically… If you think I have missed a culture that should be discussed, please let me know at [email protected] or in the Cultural Consideration thread.
Also, While I did reference the internet and a book that I have, the observations listed may not reflect exactly your perception (or practice) of that culture. Please feel free to discuss what I’ve written and any differences you may find. This will help bring a better understanding to each culture. In this way, we may better understand the limitations of certain interventions, and find alternate methods that will respect the culture of an individual or people.
The Purnell model is used in health care, yet it has a truth inherent for all of us who interact with other people.
PURNELL MODEL
1. All cultures share core similarities.
2. One culture is not better than another culture; they are just different.
3. Cultures change slowly over time.
4. Differences exist within, between, and among cultures.
5. Culture has a powerful influence on one’s interpretation of and responses to health care.
6. To be effective, health care must reflect the unique understanding of the values, beliefs, attitudes, and worldview of diverse populations and individual acculturation patterns.
7. Learning culture is an ongoing process that develops in a variety of ways, primarily through cultural encounters.
8. Prejudices and biases can be minimized with cultural understanding.
9. Cultural awareness improves the caregiver’s self-awareness.
10. Each individual has the right to be respected for his or her uniqueness and cultural heritage.
11. Individuals and families belong to several cultural groups.
12. If clients are coparticipants in their care and have a choice in health-related goals, plans, and interventions, their compliance and health outcomes will be improved.
13. Differences in race and culture often require adaptations to standard interventions.
14. The primary and secondary characteristics of culture determine the extent to which one varies from his/her dominant culture.
15. Caregivers need both culture-general and culture-specific information in order to provide culturally sensitive and competent care.
16. Caregivers who can assess, plan, intervene, and evaluate in a culturally competent manner will improve their care of clients.
17. All health-care professions share the metaparadigm concepts of global society, family, person, and health.
18. All health-care professions need similar information about cultural diversity.
19. Professions, organizations, and associations have their own culture, which can be analyzed using a grand theory of culture.
Culture Pages
AMISH
Appalachian Heritage
Includes following sub-cultures:
**Highland Scots-Irish
**Welsh
**German
**French
**English