Cultural Competence in Healthcare

This essay explores the concept of cultural competence in healthcare and its implications for nurses and midwives. It discusses the beliefs and practices of Sri Lankan and Australian cultures in relation to healthcare, highlighting the differences and similarities. The essay emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting cultural diversity in providing effective healthcare services.

Running head: CULTURAL COMPETENCE
Essay on Cultural Competence
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Introduction:
Culture is a locution which not only defines the ethnicity or race, but it can also be used to
define the characteristics like gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, education, religion,
income level, profession, or geographical location (Colucci & Lester, 2012). On the other
hand, Cultural competence can be defined as the capability to interact effectively with
individuals from a different cultural background. The practice of cultural competence is used
so that the need for all the members in the community can be addressed. The aim of the idea
of cultural competence is to be responsive and respectful towards all the members of a
particular community. This idea of cultural competence has been developed on the context of
nursing and midwifery care and recently it is being integrated on the practice of nursing care.
There are various benefits and advantages which might be acquired if cultural competency
applied in the health care practice. The primary benefits of this will be equal treatment for all
the community members in a community (Betancourt et al., 2016).
Recent studies have reported the fact that the cultural competency can aid the nurses to
establish a better connection with their patients as well as improved communication (Philip,
Manias & Woodward‐Kron, 2015). For the care management communication is paramount
for the provision of the maximum quality of caregiving service. However, it cannot be
provided to all the patients if the nurses are not aware of the patient's cultural background.
Hence, the need for an understanding of cultural competency among nurses and midwifery
professionals. The idea of being culturally competent is being applied in the nursing and
midwifery practice all over the world and Australia is no exception to this. In Australia,
nursing and midwifery students are obliged to show cultural competency during their course
and they cannot apply for registration unless until they show cultural competency (Philip,
Manias & Woodward‐Kron, 2015).

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There is a vast difference between any culture and their respective belief regarding health
care, treatment, and disease prevention. Hence, there is a need for understanding a different
culture in regard to belief related to health care. In order to that, Sri Lankan culture will be
discussed in regard to healthcare belief and it will be compared and contrasted in regard to
predominant cultural view in Australia.
Belief related to health, disease prevention, and treatment in Sri Lankan culture:
The traditional Sri Lankan culture is very rich is respect to the healthy well- being and mental
health. From the research studies, it has been evident that the traditional Sri Lankan
community used to practice various different medical treatments in respect to bacterial,
fungal, and viral diseases, different forms of surgeries as well as the treatment of mental
illness. It has also been reported that they used to possess vast knowledge of well- being and
healthy living among communities and individuals. There are many forms of traditional
medical practices such as Kadum Bidum, Ayurveda, Rasa Shastra, Keraminiya, Homeopathy,
native eye doctors, Acupuncture was performed among their communities (De Silva, 2013).
Their native eye doctors were able to treat all form of eye diseases, however, the treatment
method was varied from one eye healers to another. Homeopathy is another form of
traditional Sri Lankan medicine which was extensively used among the Sri Lankan
communities. Their homeopathic principles were based on the principle that ‘Similar cures
Similar'. This is in particular contrast with the modern western culture as the western health
system does not recognize the treatment through homeopathy. There are various research
articles available which argues against the practice of homeopathy. Another practice that has
a lot of ambiguity among its practice methods is Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a method in
which needles have to be inserted in the body to reduce pressure in a particular area of the
body. Recently, many studies have directed its research towards the acupuncture but it is not
widely accepted and still, it is being considered as eastern medical practice (De Silva, 2013).

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In addition to the medicinal practice, local knowledge, practices, and beliefs were used to
safe keep the mental health of the individuals. They were used to practice various rituals for
the protection of mental in the individuals in the community. The rituals were bodhi pooja,
pirith, pahan pooja, charms and amulets, astrology, hetme ritual, and adi veil. In addition, to
that, they also used to mediate for the well- being of mental health. Pirith was used to ward
off any mental illness, danger or fear might be present from an evil spirit (de Zoysa, 2013).
This traditional practice and beliefs have passed down from generation to generation as a
cultural heritage among the community in the Sri Lankan populace. Therefore, the traditional
belief of health and well- being vastly differs from the predominant western cultural belief of
the health care system. It can also be seen that traditional health techniques among the native
people had various different method which was influenced by many different cultures. The
reason behind this might be the complex religious, political and social mix of people present
in the Sri Lankan community and it includes people from Tamil, Sinhalese, Buddhist, Islam,
and Hindu cultural background. Along with that, it was influenced by the colonization. Care
for mental health is a relatively new concept among western health care system and
traditional Sri Lankan communities were taking care of the mental health of the individual far
earlier time (De Silva, 2013).
Belief related to health, disease prevention, and treatment in Australian culture:
In this section, the Australian culture with respect to the belief regarding health care will be
discussed briefly. The most predominant in Australia culture regarding healthcare is western
culture. However, this is not the only health culture related to the Australian people and there
is also health belief among the people of Aboriginal Australians. Both of these cultures have
some belief regarding health care and it will be presented in this section here within. Some of
the beliefs that have around western medicinal practice are that it disrupts the body’s natural

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health system (Hung, Chiou & Chang, 2012). It is also sometimes considered to be too strong
for vulnerable people like a pregnant woman, children, and elderly individuals. In addition to
the above belief, it is also been widely believed that western medicine cause habituation and
over the period larger doses is required for the treatment of the same type of ailment.
Furthermore, in some part of the world, the colour of western medicine invokes different
beliefs. For example, it some part of the world, it is a common belief that white pills are
generally safe and mild whereas medicinal pill with the colour black is harmful, strong and
dangerous to the body (Hung, Chiou & Chang, 2012). Additionally, it has also been believed
that western medicine destroys and provokes changes in the body.
The belief related to health among the aboriginal Australians is could not be more different
and diverse from the western health care system. One of the primary concepts of the
traditional aboriginal healthcare system is that preventative care. The aboriginal people used
to believe that the preventative measure is better than cure. In this regard, they have believed
that good health can be associated with strict adherence to healthy behaviours. They have
preapproved healthy behaviours which can be associated with good health. For example,
these healthy behaviors include the prohibition of consumption of a certain type of food
during certain physical conditions like pregnancy or menstruations. In addition to that, their
health care system consists of bush medicine and traditional healers (Van Schaik &
Thompson, 2012). Multiple substances can be used with regard to their bush medicine such
as diet, herbal preparations, massage, rest, restricted diet, and external therapies such as
smoke, ochre, heat, and steam. It is being widely used among aboriginal Australians (Oliver,
2013). A survey conducted among the aboriginal people reported that more than 22 percent
of aboriginal people have used traditional medicine or bush medicine during the last 6
months. Traditional healers are highly respected in this community and this aspect of their
health care system is particularly dominated by the male healers. These healers not only

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responsible for their remedy of severe illness but they were also involved in the determination
of health and providing spiritual and strong social support. Another thing that is particularly
predominant on the belief of the health care system of the aboriginal people is that
supernatural influence. Supernatural intervention and sorcery play a huge role in the life and
society of the aboriginal people. Due to this fact, the death of individuals with very old age,
death of infants and chronic illness is considered to be the normal events among the
aboriginal society. The influence of supernatural influence and sorcery is particularly
intertwined with the belief system of the aboriginal health care system (Kite & Davy, 2016).
Compare and contrast of the belief in the health care system of Sri Lankan culture and
Australian culture:
From the above discussion of the two cultural systems, it can be observed that the Sri Lankan
culture and Australian culture is multifaceted. Both of this culture is influenced by
individuals, religion, and beliefs from a diverse background. The two culture is totally is
different from each other and their approach to the treatment is different as well. Although
the discussion here is outlined as the difference in the two cultures, it is actually three
cultures. The reason behind this statement is lying in the fact of the vast and total different
structure and belief of the aboriginal people’s traditional health system. These three diverse
health care systems are vibrantly different from each other in their belief, approach to disease
for treatment. In one hand, the western medical system is mainly reactionary and deal with
illness as it happens whereas aboriginal medical system believes in the preventative measure
which is the cornerstone for their health system (Kite & Davy, 2016). There is very little
compatibility between the western medical system and traditional aboriginal system and it
can be evident in current situations as well. Due to this incompatibility, aboriginal people are
less inclined to use modern western medicine despite clear advantages in some cases. This
disinterestedness is a clear throne in Australia's health care system in regard to the treatment

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of the aboriginal people. On the other hand, western medicine is generally interested in the
causation, recognition, and remedy of the treatment whereas traditional aboriginal health care
system seeks the meaning of disease through spiritual explanation. Traditional aboriginal
medicine not only seeks to answer the ‘How’ but also seeks to answer the question ‘Why’
(Oliver, 2013).
Interestingly, the health care belief of Sri Lankan Culture is wholly different from both of the
above two cultures. However, traditional Sri Lankan Health system has also been influenced
by the western medical system due to colonization just like the traditional aboriginal
medicine system. It has also been noticed that the traditional Sri Lankan health system takes
into consideration the mental health far earlier than the western medicine system (De Silva,
2013). It is also incorporated with the idea and techniques such as acupuncture, homeopathy
which was not known to the western medical system before colonization. In this scenario,
there is a clear contrast between these two cultures regarding the benefits of homeopathy.
Generally, in western medicine culture, there is a dismissive attitude towards homeopathy
whereas homeopathy being used in this culture significantly till date and people in Sri Lankan
culture tend to believe in homeopathy. Similar to, aboriginal culture in the Australian
continent, spiritual ritual plays a role in this culture. In traditional Sri Lankan culture, various
spiritual rituals were conducted for the physical and mental well- being of the individuals (De
Silva, 2013). However, sorcery is the unique part of the belief which can be seen only in the
case of aboriginal culture. From the above condition, it can be seen that each culture has a
different approach towards the prevention and treatment of a disease in the community and
every approach has some merit and reasoning behind it. Belief is a significant factor for
remedy towards the patients who are receiving treatments. Therefore, understanding
everyone’s culture and belief only make the treatment better for everybody.

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Implications of cultural diversity towards the practice of nurses and midwives in
Australia:
The way to cultural competence must recognize the distinctiveness of the relationship
between the nurses, midwife and the patients. When there is a presence of continuity of care,
this bond the nurses, midwife and the patients is improved. This special interaction or
relationship is described by various studies as an integration of two cultures. This relationship
is likely to promote confidence between a parent and the nurses or midwives (Hunt et al.,
2015). This trust allows patients to build positive relationships with the nurses and midwives.
Nurses and midwives need to recognize that their positions and beliefs and perspectives in the
health care system can influence the patients as well as their cultural safety or uncertainty.
Various studies have argued the fact that the majority of nurses and midwives are aware of
the different cultural origins of individuals and that nurses are not always integrated in their
common practice by their individual needs (Allen et al., 2013).
Characteristics of a culturally competent health care system:
The culturally competent system can be defined as the practice in which health care
professionals understands, respects, and recognizes the needs of patients with culturally
diverse beliefs, values, behaviours as well as linguistic needs. Culturally competent nursing
and midwifery care approaches would include optimal communication and the development
of good relations and recognition of the cultural preferences of the patients. Free, open, and
respectful communication is essential in order for identification and recognition of patient's
care requirements. For instance, cultural safety in Australia can sometimes be difficult
because of language difficulties for non-English speaking patients. Various studies showed
that patients who speak broken English are not able to communicate efficiently with
nurses and other health care professionals feel distant from the health care process. Another

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successful strategy would be to ensure that the human resources department hires employees
from a diverse cultural background (Albougami, 2015). A health care organization must
embed cultural values and views in internal communications to increase confidence in the
working environment for the retention of a diverse workforce. Every minority group consists
of sub-cultures, and it is not feasible to train in for all cultures. An effective approach will be
to educate health care professionals about conventional beliefs and actions in the cultures
which are commonly present in those settings (Shen, 2015).
Conclusion:
Therefore, from the above discussion, it can be stated that culture plays a significant role in
an individual's behaviours among society. Based on the cultural belief, a person's point of
view can be different from one cultural group to another. This is particularly true in the case
of health care settings and culturally competent care approach is required from the nurses and
midwives. In this article, it has been discussed that cultural beliefs can be extremely different
from one group to another. In order to ensure cultural safety among the patients, the practice
of cultural competence needs to be promoted in the nursing and midwifery practice.
Australian nurses and midwives must recognize and understand that there are cultural
differences between themselves and the patients which require the cultural competent
approach to providing holistic care to those patients.

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