Jarvis Chapter 2- Cultural Competence

Jarvis Chapter 2- Cultural Competence

1. Basic Characteristics of Culture

   • Learned from birth through language and socialization
   • Shared by all members for the cultural group
   • Adapted to specific conditions related to environment and availability of natural resourses
   • Dyanmic and always changing

2. Culture Competency

   • It is a process which occurs over time
     • Includes attitudes, skills, knowledge integrated over time
     • Includes understanding poverty and environmental health
     • Government Approach: 3 Areas
       • Culturally Sensitive
       • Culturally Appropriate
       • Culturally Competent

3. Cultural Formulation Model (tool for explore patient's issues via culture)

   • Categories in Model
     • Cultural Identity of individual
     • Cultural Explanation of the Individual's illness
     • Cultural factors related to psychosocial environment and levels of functioning
     • Cultural elements of the relationship between patient and physician

4. Key Terms

   • Ethnicity: a social group that possesses shared traits such as common geographic origin, religion, language, traditions, values, etc
   • Acculturation: process of social and psychological exchanges between individuals of different cultures, with subsequent changes in either or both groups
     • Ex: When the rush of immigrants came to the US in the early 1900s and the immigrants cultures partially assimilated to American ways or were Americanized their culture
   • Acculturative stress: the loss/damage that occurs when adjusting to or integrating new beliefs, routines or social roles
   • Spirituality vs. Religion
     • Religion= organized system of beliefs, often with higher power or divine ruler
     • Spirituality = unique purpose or meaning of life based on person
   • Balance( when referring to health) : balance of the mental, physical, and spiritual being with the outside world
   • Heritage Consistency: using a heritage assessment tool/questions to determine the depth the patient identifies with traditional heritage (beliefs, family practices, etc)

5. Health Beliefs and Cultural Differences Example

   • Epilepsy
     • Uganda: Contagious and Untreatable
     • Greeks: brings shame to family
     • Mexicans Americans: Physical Imbalance
     • Hmong: entry of "spirit" into the body and gained favor by enduring a trial by God

6. Causes of Illness

   • Hot/Cold Theory
     • Origins from Ancient Greek Theory: Believed by some hispanics, arabs, blacks, and asian groups
       • Believed that certain illnesses come from cold entering the body and certain from heat entering the body
         • Hot Examples: sore throat, rash
         • Cold Examples: GI discomfort, paralysis
   • Biomedical/ Scientific Theory of Illness
     • assumes that all life events have a cause and effect and the human body functions mechanically

7. Areas of Conflict Between Nurse and Patient

   • Seeking prayer instead of medicine due to religion or spirituality
   • Not aware of health care alternatives available to them due to environmental factors