Module 10: Culture and Health

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

learned, shared and transmitted values, beliefs, norms and lifetime practices of a group that guides thinking and action patterns

inherited lens through which the individual perceives and udnerstands the world (and learns to act in it)

Question 2

Features of culture

Answer 2

common frame of reference

ex) language, evironment, spiritual, transfer of knowledge

Question 3

ethnicity

Answer 3

place of origin

ex) american, canadian, newfoundlander

Question 4

race

Answer 4

category of person based on common assumed or imagined genetic characteristics
ex) skin colour, height, facial features

Question 5

culture influences whether a condition is conceptualized as pathological or normal (how culture impacts health)

Answer 5

• some health problems are only defined as health problems in particular cultures
• medicalization - more power given to medical institutions for social control
• who has power to determine what counts as pathological/who and how they treat it

Question 6

contribute to the prevalence of illness and the readiness of seeking help (how culture impacts health)

Answer 6

• cultural beliefs can dissuade people from discussing their condition or seeking help
• can be hard to ‘fit’ a new illness into a culture’s understanding
• ex) physicians have the highest rates of suicide among any profession in canada (don’t seek mental health help, long hours, resilience is expected

Question 7

cultural differences create challenges in communication (how culture impacts health)

Answer 7

• lack of common framework and misinterpretation that follow as a result of cultural differences
• language difference
• ex) nonverbal actions could be rude in one culture but mean something different in another

Question 8

cultures hold divergent expectations for relationships and roles between healthcare professionals and patients

Answer 8

• one person may expect a collaboration relationship and one might expect an authority-subordinate relationship

Question 9

cultures have differently-ranked values when it comes to interventions (how culture impacts health)

Answer 9

ex) when northern communities are being evacuatied, elderly go first but then the children riot

Question 10

there are gaps in the transmission of cultural schemas which impact access and use of health services (how culture impacts health

Answer 10

ex) going to the gym for hte first time - you don’t know where the free lockers are, don’t know how to adjust equipment properly

Question 11

cultural competency

Answer 11

the ability to work with and for individuals from a number of cultural groups
- criticisms: “one size fits all”