S3) Cultural diversity

Question 1

What is the standard definition of culture?

Answer 1

• Culture is defined by each person in relationship to the group(s) with whom he/she identifies
• An individual’s cultural identity may be based on heritage as well as individual circumstances and personal choice

Question 2

Identify 10 factors which could affect cultural identity

Answer 2

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Country of origin
• Age
• Gender
• Language
• Sexual orientation
• Religious/spiritual beliefs
• Occupation
• Socioeconomic status

Question 3

Identify 6 behaviours which are impacted by factors affecting cultural identify

Answer 3

• Communication styles
• Diet preferences
• Health beliefs
• Family roles
• Lifestyles
• Decision making processes

Question 4

What is the importance of learning about cultural identity in healthcare?

Answer 4

All of these beliefs and practices, in turn can influence how patients and health care professionals:

• Perceive health and illness
• Interact with one another

Question 5

Why is diversity important to healthcare?

Answer 5

• Increasing diversity of populations (patients and workforce)
• Increasing, yet limited, evidence that a patient-centred approach improves outcomes
• Huge disparities in care accessed

Question 6

Explain the following problems that arise in healthcare due to diversity in terms of:

• Lack of familiarity with concepts
• Self protection/denial

Answer 6

• Lack of familiarity with concepts – an inability to recognise the relevance of culture to health
• Self-protection/denial – an attitude that differences aren’t significant or relevant / our common humanity transcends our differences

Question 7

Explain the following problems that arise in healthcare due to diversity in terms of:

• Fear of the unknown / the new
• Pressure due to time constraints

Answer 7

• Fear of the unknown or the new – may be challenging / intimidating to understand something that doesn’t fit into one’s worldview
• Feeling of pressure due to time constraints – unable to look in depth at an individual patient’s needs

Question 8

Identify 4 compound problems which might arise from diversity in healthcare

Answer 8

• Miscommunication
• Rejection of healthcare provider
• Issues within staff groups
• Misunderstanding of patient perspective

Question 9

Which part of a patient’s healthcare experience is influenced by culture?

Answer 9

• The way they make sense of certain symptoms and behaviours
• Their view of potential services and the services they choose to accept

Question 10

With regards to mental health, which part of a patient’s healthcare experience is influenced by culture?

Answer 10

• The way in which those who have mental health problems are perceived
• The way they think about mental health and mental health problems