Cultural Safety in Healthcare: Importance and Strategies

Running head: CULTURAL SAFETY 1
Cultural Safety
Name
Institution

CULTURAL SAFETY 2
Question 1: Briefly discuss Rheumatic Heart Disease and the cause, including
factors that may have led to Ruby contracting the disease. To do
this answer the following:
 Define Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) and state the
cause
RHD is a condition in which the heart valves are permanently
damaged as a result of complications of inflammatory of the
throat (strep throat) due to rheumatic fever. This condition can be
caused when the throat is affected by a group A streptococcus
which is a bacteria that causes scarlet fever or strep throat
(Marijon, Mirabel, Celermajer & Jouven, 2012). Strep throat if
left untreated may cause rheumatic fever thus leading to
rheumatic heart disease.
 Identify and explain two (2) social determinants of health
that may have made Ruby more susceptible to the disease
Social determinants of health such as overcrowding and poverty
may increase susceptibility to this condition like in the case of
Ruby. Ruby stays in a small house that holds 11 other
individuals. They all share one bathroom and one toilet that
becomes blocked due to poor sanitation as is always with
overcrowded houses. Poor sanitation increases the risk of
infection from group A streptococcus (Marijon et al., 2012). The
overcrowding thus leads to a rapid spread of the bacteria thus
leading to Rheumatic Heart Disease like in the case of Ruby.
Additionally, poverty means that affording quality care to treat
Satisfactory response
Yes ☐ No ☐

CULTURAL SAFETY 3
strep threat promptly before complications that lead to Rheumatic
Heart Disease.
 Explain how one of these determinants may have affected
Shakira’s family’s decision-making around her care. 2
marks
They only have enough money for meals and they sometimes go
hungry meaning that access to care is almost impossible. It is thus
clear to see that poverty affected the decision-making of the
family on how to care for their daughter.
 Explain what treatment Ruby needs for her Rheumatic
Heart Disease and how often she needs treatment
Ruby needs a prescription of antibiotics to kill the remaining
streptococcus bacteria for at least 10 years. Additionally, she may
need an anti-inflammatory treatment such as a prescription for
aspirin to relieve pain and reduce inflammation (Marijon et al.,
2012).
 Compare the occurrence of the disease between
Indigenous people with Rheumatic Heart Disease
compared to the mainstream population. Include
statistics.
According to reports, indigenous Australians are more likely to
suffer the complications of RHD as compared to the general
population. 7 out 100,000 patients suffer from the complications
as compared to only 2 out of 100,000 among the mainstream
population ("2017 HPF Report - 1.06 Acute rheumatic fever and
rheumatic heart disease", 2019).

CULTURAL SAFETY 4
Question 2: As an Enrolled Nurse explain how you will provide culturally
safe care by:
1. Defining the following terms
2. Giving one (1) example of each term:
a. Cultural awareness
b. Cultural sensitivity
Satisfactory response
Yes ☐ No ☐
Answer:
The patient-doctor relationship is very important in providing care for patients
with RHD. As an enrolled nurse, it is important to exhibit a high sense of
cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity to ensure that culturally safe care is
offered. Cultural awareness may be defined as being conscious of my own
cultural beliefs, customs, and values and understanding how they influence my
decision-making in a healthcare setting for example bowing down instead of a
handshake as a form of greetings. Cultural sensitivity, on the other hand, is the
ability to appropriately respond to feelings and attitudes of people who share a
common cultural heritage for example seamlessly interacting with individuals
from a different culture and observing the norms of that culture.
Comment:
By acknowledging the impact of events and issues throughout the history of
Australian and Torres Strait lslander people it helps the Enrolled Nurse gain
insight into the current physical, mental, social, economic and political
situations affecting Australian and Torres Strait lslander people and their
engagement with community services and health systems.
Question 3: 3.1 Research via the link:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2012C00258
In your own words briefly explain the objectives of The
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005.
2
Satisfactory response
Yes ☐ No ☐