Culturally Sensitive Care

Culturally Sensitive Care

1. Hispanic/Latino Culture

   • Have strong family loyalty
     • Need to involve family in care as their opinions are important to patients
   • Lower prevalence for chronic disorders in general
   • Source of health care is use of curanderos (local folk healers) who use prayer and herbs
     • Nurses need to ask about the use of folk medication
   • Mental illness not discussed much
     • Encourage discussion to uncover any illness
   • Women reluctant to express private concern
   • Hesitant to ask questions so nurses need to ensure they understand their diagnosis

2. African Culture

   • Including grandparents, particularly grandmothers in care is important
     • Not uncommon to have 5-6 people in hospital room
   • Have higher rates of hypertension, adolescent pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease and stroke
   • Lower income clients less likely to use regular preventative health services
   • Rely on informal help in the community until a health problem becomes a crisis
     • Allow them to have control over health care
     • Use emergency departments as a major health care resource
   • Need to respect them as they are more willing to participate in treatment

3. Asian Culture

   • The wisdom of elders and men is used to make major health decisions
   • Acupressure and herbal medicine are their traditional practices
   • Clients respond better to a formal relationship
     • Work better with well-defined boundaries
   • May not ask for pain medication until pain is severe so offer medication
   • Higher occurrence of tuberculosis, hepatitis B and liver cancer
   • Do not seek early treatment for mental health issues because of shame
   • May be reluctant to be examined by person of opposite sex
   • Ask them open-ended questions
   • Bhuddhists believe all life is suffering and it can be reduced by eliminating desire