Week 4: Culture & health Flashcards
How does culture influence health?
Culture shapes beliefs about health, illness, and healing practices. It influences health behaviors, healthcare-seeking behaviors, and how individuals understand and respond to health information.
What is the difference between expert and traditional health belief systems?
Expert systems are formalized systems of knowledge often associated with professionalized medicine and scientific evidence. Traditional systems are passed down through generations within a culture and often encompass beliefs about the spiritual and natural world.
Provide an example of a traditional medicine practice and its purpose.
Example: Using turmeric for inflammation (its purpose) in some South Asian cultures.
Why is it important to consider a patient’s cultural background when providing healthcare?
It ensures respectful and effective care by acknowledging and addressing beliefs, practices, and potential barriers to care that can be influenced by culture.
What is cultural humility and how does it differ from simply being “culturally aware”?
Cultural humility involves self-reflection, recognizing power imbalances, and centering the patient’s experiences and expertise. It goes beyond awareness to actively learn from and advocate for the patient.
Give an example of a cultural opportunity that might arise in a healthcare setting.
A patient mentioning a home remedy they use, allowing the provider to understand their beliefs and potentially integrate this information into their care plan.
How can a healthcare provider’s cultural comfort (or discomfort) impact patient care?
Discomfort might lead to a provider avoiding cultural conversations, limiting opportunities for understanding the patient’s needs. Comfort can facilitate open dialogue and trust.
What are some potential consequences of a lack of cultural competence in healthcare?
Misunderstandings, misdiagnoses, inadequate treatment, decreased patient satisfaction, and health disparities.
How might history, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, impact health beliefs within a community?
It can lead to mistrust in healthcare systems and providers, particularly among groups who have experienced exploitation or discrimination.
What are some ways to promote culturally inclusive healthcare practices?
Diverse staff training, culturally appropriate materials, interpreter services, incorporating cultural assessments into patient intake, and community engagement.
