Cultural Competence in Healthcare

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

1CULTURAL COMPETENCE
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).

2CULTURAL COMPETENCE
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).

3CULTURAL COMPETENCE
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