cross cultural communication and health disparities in physiotherapy

Question 1

what does the word culture mean?

Answer 1

all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation

eg communication styles, religious beliefs, art, music etc

Question 2

why does cross cultural conflict arise>

Answer 2

when the hidden parts eg religious beliefs, rules governing relationships, family etc of the culture collide
- something is triggered which disturbs us at an emotional, subconscious level

Question 3

how can we avoid cross cultural conflict?

Answer 3

-we have to learn to see the world without our own cultural lens
-eg listening actively, establishing a rapport, understand different perspectives

Question 4

what is power distance?

Answer 4

a concept that describes how much people in a society accept and expect unequal power relationships.

Question 5

what are examples of high vs low power distance

Answer 5

high power distance cultures- patients are comfortable with authority figures like doctors or leaders making decisions for them.
low power distance cultures -patients expect equality and prefer open communication. Patients are more likely to ask questions, challenge decisions, and actively participate in their care.

Question 6

what do members of collectivist cultures regard themselves as?

Answer 6

members of a group
-they try to align their goals with those in the group

Question 7

what do members of a individualist culture regard themselves as?

Answer 7

-autonomous individuals and aim to reach their personal goals independently from the overall group

Question 8

how is individualism an collectivism described in medical contexts?

Answer 8

• may be evident in the way in which privacy is handled or in the extent to which relative are involves in decisions regarding the patients illness

Question 9

what is the male role and female role characterised by?

Answer 9

male role - there is an emphasis on high performance, dominance and assertiveness
female role - caring, warm heartedness etc

Question 10

how can masculinity and femininity be seen in a medical context?

Answer 10

in a medical content, the dimension, masculinity/ femininity may be evident in the distribution of roles : men are naturally doctors researchers etc, women are naturally nurses, lab assistants

Question 11

what is high vs low content in healthcare?

Answer 11

• low context cultures state explicitly what they mean and they will focus on the literal meaning of the message, there is no reading between the lines
  -high context will communicate with indirect messages. there is much reading between the lines and nonverbal communication is important

Question 12

what are examples of qualities needed for successful intercultural communication?

Answer 12

-patience
-tolerance - a fair attitude toward different values and beliefs
-empathy - the ability to put yourself in another position
-respect