14 - Cultural Safety Flashcards
What are some definitions of culture?
The system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviours and artifacts that members of a particular community use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are shared between and within generations
Learned and shared knowledge that specific groups use to generate their behaviour and interpret their experience of the world. It includes but is not limited to:
roles
communication
language
etc
Culture is unique and fluid (no two people have the same culture and it changes as our interactions with other people increase)
Why should power differentials be examined?
Admitting power differentials inherent to the delivery of healthcare is a part of cultural safety. Power relationships should be examined under the lines of gender, sexuality, spiritual beliefs, and socioeconomic status.
What is the social construction of knowledge?
Knowledge is created as we interact with all things in our environment. It is not static and not only what we learn in school. It is the totality of our experiences (our life) that leads us to believe and know
What is cultural safety?
An environment that is spiritually, socially, and emotionally safe, as well as physically safe for people; where there is no assault, challenge, or denial of their identity, of who they are, and what they need. It is about shared respect, meaning, knowledge, and experience of learning together
How to transition away from cultural competence toward cultural safety?
Acknowledge that we are all bearers of culture
Expose the social, political, and historical context of people
Recognizes unequal power relations
Understand uniqueness of person
What are some culturally safe actions?
Actions which recognize and respect the cultural identities of others
Meet others needs, expectations, and rights
No harm
What are some culturally unsafe actions?
Diminish, demean, or disempower the cultural identity
Decrease well-being of an individual
Cause damage/harm
How to assess organizational cultural safety?
Policy Audit
-Harassment-free workplace
-Holiday Calendar
-Flexibility
-Inclusion based on Human Rights Code
Employee Feedback
-survey
How to assess personal cultural safety?
Self-reflection
-Recognize own culture
-Describe how it impacts interactions
Client Feedback
-Control
-Understood
-Decision interest
-Respect
-Equal partner
What is cultural humility?
A health and social service provider’s awareness of their own limitations as a provider regarding what they can actually know about the culture of another person. Culture is a lived, dynamic experience, so all that can be known is what someone chooses to share. This means providers need to be curious in their relationships with others; they need to be willing to seek out information in a respectful and non-judgemental manner
How does culture affect indigenous people?
Trauma, loss, poverty, and family separation resulting from colonialism and neocolonialism are widely understood to have far-reaching and multigenerational impacts on the mental, spiritual, physical, social, and economic wellness of Indigenous peoples, which has contributed to opioid use problems for this population.
How does cultural environment affect health?
The environment plays an important role in shaping mental health and how individuals are able to cope with stressful situations. Stressful environmental conditions, especially early childhood trauma, can increase the risk of substance use later in life
Stigmatization by health, social service providers, and the public of those who use or misuse opioids remains rooted in the moral and individualist belief that addiction is a moral weakness or a willful choice
