Bridging Cultural Gaps in Healthcare

This assignment examines the critical role of cultural competence in providing effective and equitable healthcare. It emphasizes the need for healthcare practitioners to understand and respect diverse cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. The text highlights various challenges posed by cultural differences within the healthcare sector and discusses strategies to address these issues through advanced training, government policies, and individual awareness. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all patients receive equal and respectful treatment regardless of their cultural identity.

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 1
CULTURE AND DIVERSITY: CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN HEALTH CARE
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Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 2
Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care
T. 2 A Non-English speaking female immigrants who is recently married and practices a
different religion to your own
Introduction
Diversity defines how different we all are, we are all different in terms of background, language,
religion and in many other ways. Culture plays a vital role in shaping every individual’s health-
related beliefs, values, and behavior. Our difference makes us unique in one way or another and
it is important that we accept each other and appreciate the fact that we are different. Different
people have different values and privileges, and before we judge others we need to know that we
are also different in many ways, and we have different values and privileges. In the health
facility, there are many patients who come for checkups and treatments, and they come from
different cultures, and it is the responsibilities of the health officers/ doctors/nurses to make sure
that they understand them. We should treat and care for all patients in an understanding and
respectable way irrespective of their cultural background. This means that we should try to put
ourselves in the position of the patients who are not culturally competent and understand their
struggles and challenges they are facing especially in the healthcare facility.
As health officers, it is vital that we are culturally competent in our expertise to make sure that
all patients are cared for despite their difference because at the end of the day we are all human
and deserve to be treated right. Being competent culturally requires personal attributes,
knowledge, and skills and being intercultural competent can be taught. (Rassool, 2014). There
are factors that can interfere with the levels of intercultural competence like the personality
factors which include, good sense of self, having ideas and recognition of amenities with beliefs
and values of different cultures, display sensitivity in relation to various cultures, being aware of
their social norms and communicating in an understandable language to the diverse groups.

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 3
Cultural and religious practices and beliefs can highly affect an individual health and wellbeing
(Kronenfeld, 2016). A patient who for example, is non-English speaker female immigrant who is
married and practices a different religion from that of the health officer will need a culturally
competent doctor to attend to them. Such patients find a hard time at the health facilities first
because of the language barrier, second because of religious beliefs and practices and third
because of traditions. The health officer should be competent enough to be able to assist such
kind of patient to get the required medication and treatment (O'Toole, 2012). Depending on the
patient's background, for example, the above-mentioned patient, her religious beliefs can hinder
her from getting treatment if she is health illiterate. Most immigrants especially those who come
from the Muslim religion do not understand English, most of them never go to hospitals and they
refer hospitals to be for those who are very ill or the rich, and their religion and beliefs somehow
hinder them from getting medical attention (Spector, 2000). These immigrants find a hard time at
the medical facilities because they are health illiterate and barely know or understand other
languages like English for example.
The doctors have to be culturally competent to help such kind of patients and this involves
awareness and understanding of the Islamic faith and Islamic beliefs (Marsh, 2014). Health
practitioners should be conversant with the implication of their spiritual and cultural values for
clinic care. The fact that Muslim women are very private and conserved, it is, therefore, the
nurses’ responsibility to be aware of the privacy and modesty, appropriate use of touch, dietary
and medication use. Health practitioners need to be well trained and educated to curb these
barriers for a better health care for every individual. Health literacy is very important and it is
only through communication that information can be well understood (McFarland, & In Wehbe-
Alamah, 2015). Well trained nursed who are cultural competent have an easy time dealing with
diverse patient and they are able to educate them in order to be health literate, for them to

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 4
understand the importance of treatment and checkups and to help them understand their religion
and relations to health care (Srivastava, 2007). .
By understanding and embracing diversity, it means that we have accepted everyone regardless
of where they come from, who they are and we are celebrating each and every one because
diversity makes us who we are. A strength-based approach to cultural competency care helps us
in embracing diversity because it is the first step to achieving cultural competency (Kronenfeld,
2010). The strength-based approach is a collaboration that involves the patient and the health
practitioners, this approach believes in togetherness for a better health outcome. This approach is
based on the strength and not weakness; it doesn’t mean that strength-based approach doesn’t
have weaknesses. This approach is important for the purpose of health care because of the
increased attention on support directed to individual, management of one’s self in chronic illness
and prolonged conditions and coordination for a better outcome. There is an increase in concern
and pinpointing out strengths and capacities in finding ultimate solutions for the caregivers and
the patients. The strength-based approach is a solution based approach focusing on what people
want to achieve instead of their reasons for seeking help (Leininger, 2005).
The strength-based approach suggests that cultural competence rely on three main concepts, the
first is;
Cultural awareness: This involves the knowledge of understanding the similarities and
differences of cultures, the effect of culture on individual beliefs and practice, and the way in
which culture affects organizations.
Cultural sensitivity: An individual with a positive attitude about themselves, their culture and
willingness to openly talk about their cultural variation can contribute to a deeper appreciation of
culture generally. Having knowledge and being comfortable with your cultural identity is a big
step to being able to openly understand and learn other people’s culture.

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 5
Cultural competent behavior: This involves behaving or acting in a manner that clearly shows
your level of awareness and sensitivity to the order of other cultures.
It is relatively important for the health practitioners to consider cultural needs of their patients
when delivering cultural competent to a Muslim, for example. This is because they need to be
treated with respect and understanding when supporting their individual need. This can be done
by ensuring that a conversation between the caregiver and the patient or the patients’ family is
clearly understood to make sure that their needs are met. It is the caregiver’s responsibility to
talk sensitively with the patient about their needs, for example, a patient may give out their
spiritual advisors number, and it is the nurse to come to a mutual consensus with the patient for a
positive outcome.
The NHMRC Four-Dimensional Model
This model defines culture as a combined set of human behavior that includes belief, norms,
actions, and custom of a given group. Cultural competence, therefore, involves the skills and
knowledge continuously deliver great health care services that inclusively hits the target of both
cultural, social, and linguistic need of a patient. This model of cultural competency is viewed
from different perspectives ways for example systemic, organizational, professional and
individual. The dimensions interrelate in a way that cultural competence both at an individual
level and professional level is justified by the organizational and systematic need and capacity
(In Purnell, 2013).
Systemic- this involves policies and channels that are effective, instruments used to monitor and
adequate resources are important in nurturing behaviors and practices in various stages to see if
they are competent culturally. These strategies appreciate participation of the different diverse
groups in issues involving their wellness and the environment.

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 6
Organizational - abilities and assets needed by patient difference are all in together. A culture
can be established where there is ethnic, racial competence identified as important to main
function and repeatedly acknowledged and evaluated. The organization is attached to a chain of
different management levels that are both cultural and linguistically different.
Professional- this level acknowledges cultural competence as a crucial factor in learning and in
professional development. This results in some identified professions relating their cultural
competence levels to lead their professions.
Individual - behaviors, ideas, and actions that define the competency of culture are adjusted and
made to be very efficient by staying in a functional and supportive health facility and broader
system. Health profession individuals are encouraged to work with various cultures to create a
meaningful and important long-lasting health promotion programs.
This model works together in all aspects to help in promoting understandings, coordination and
promoting cultural diversity within health facilities for a continuous provision of healthcare to all
individuals despite their ethnic, race or cultural background.
Culture and diversity of individuals, should not deter them from getting health care services at
any health facility (Dreachslin, Gilbert, & Malone, 2013). With the embracing of diversity, a lot
has changed in the health sector for the benefit of the patient.
Representation puts patients at ease
Embracing cultural diversity has led to the representation which in turn has put patients at ease.
The government has introduced a system in which it doesn’t limit individuals from certain
ethical, race and cultural background to work at health facilities instead it has opened doors for
individuals from all walks of life. This is encouraging and putting the patients at ease because
they can relate or identify with health care providers from their own background.

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 7
Improved patient satisfaction and results
Understanding people’s background is very important and not making assumptions is key to
understanding the fact that people come from different background and different. A patient will
feel more comfortable when their health care provider understand their cultural difference and
they are able to explain their test results well and their diagnosis (Storey, Howard, & Gillies,
2002). . This will create good communication between the patient and their caregivers. People
living in minority areas often have less health care facilities and health care providers who come
from minority backgrounds go to work in those diverse areas hence increasing the doctor-patient
ratio.
Improved health care services
Cultural diversity has led to improved health care within the health facilities, the fact that
practitioners are aware of the diverse culture of different individuals they are able to
communicate and understand each other by placing the patients’ interest and needs first.
Diversity has broadened the mind of the health care providers and they are well knowledgeable
on how to handle patients from different ethnic, racial and cultural background by having the
basic knowledge of each individual beliefs and practices (Rose, 2013). . This has in turn brought
about the good relationship between the patient and the doctor thus improved health literacy
among the patients visiting health facilities.
A culturally competent individual is someone who understands and acknowledges diversity, this
type of a person has some knowledge about different people and different cultures (Tjale, & De,
2004). A culturally competent individual knows “what to say,” “how to say” and “when to say”
they are cautious in their selection of words and in their way of self-expression. A competent
individual knows how to express themselves when communicating to different persons; they
understand why everyone is different from the other and respect their place (Tseng, & Streltzer,

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 8
2008). It is human to treat humanity with kindness, we are all from different walks of life and we
are all human and communication is important for human communication. We should free
ourselves from assumption because we may end up having a wrong perception about a certain
group of people and this may not be true. It is important that we be keen with our words, actions
and behaviors towards different people because we all different but special in our own kind.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cultural diversity is experienced in different sectors not just the health centers but
even in our daily lives. How you treat an individual especially someone from a different ethnic,
race or cultural background is very important. Understanding and embracing diversity is a step to
closing in the cultural difference among us. Advanced training on cultural diversity has helped a
lot of healthcare practitioners in dealing with their day to day patients. Access to primary health
care is a right to all citizens and it is the responsibility of healthcare practitioners to make sure
that all patients despite their background get equal treatment. The government has put in place
policies to curb the issue of cultural diversity within the health sector and that is another big step
for accepting diversity. It really doesn’t matter where u come from, we should respect others as
much as we expect others to respect our cultural background.

Culture and Diversity: Cultural Competence in Health Care 9
References
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