WHAT IS CULTURE?

Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that is
passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called "the way of life for an entire
society." As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, and art.

WHAT IS CULTURAL COMPETENCY?

Cultural Competency – means being aware of your own cultural beliefs and values and how these maybe
different from other cultures including being able to learn about and honor the different cultures of
those you work with.

 Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of client’s culture

 Accepting and respecting cultural differences
 Adapting care to be congruent with the client’s culture

Component of Cultural Care

 Cultural Awareness – understanding one’s cultural background and also the other ethnic cultural
background
 Cultural Knowledge – involves seeking or obtaining information base on different cultural and
ethnic groups. This can be expanded by accessing information obtain through journal, books,
internet etc.
 Cultural Skills – involves the ability of the CAREGIVERS to collect pertinent cultural data and
performing it.
 Cultural Encounter – the CAREGIVER are having direct engagement in the cross-cultural
interaction with other ethnic group from different cultural background
 Cultural Desire – refers to the motivation become culturally aware and to seek cultural
encounter.
Cultural Competent Caregiving
 Remember that each person in an individual, and should be treated as such
 Understand the barriers to communicate
 Respect cultural differences pertaining to body language. Not all people ascribe to the same
beliefs about.
 Welcome family involvement while maintaining your role as a PATIENT ADVOCATE.
 Practice Cultural Desire
 Recognizes certain cultural and religious beliefs.

Example of Cultural and Religious Differences

 Hispanic – belief in mal ojo (evil eyes), or excessive admiration and direct contact is avoided.
 Orthodox Judaism – follow Kosher dietary laws
 Jehovah’s Witness – REFUSED blood transfusion
 East Indian/Thailand – believe the head is fragile and should not be touched. Believe SACRED
 Eastern Orthodox/Muslim/Orthodox Judaism – prohibit, discourage, or propose AUTOPSY
 Latino – comfortable with close conversational distance. More expressive
 Muslim Woman – will not shake hand of a man. More conservative and maintaining modesty.
Female healthcare workers should be available.
 Native American – believe in non-traditional medicine
What is Stress?
 Stress is a natural human responses to pressure when faced with challenging and sometimes
dangerous situations,
 Stress can be defined as our mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions to any
perceived demands or threats.

The “Fight or Flight” Response

 When situations seem threatening to us, our bodies react quickly to supply protection by
preparing to take action.
 The physiological response to a stressor is known as reactivity
 This physiological reaction is known as the “fight to flight” response.
 Physiological responses can accumulate and result in long-term wear on the body.

What Makes Something Stressful?

 Situations that have strong demands
 Situation that are imminent
 Life transitions
 Timing (eg. Deviation from norm)
 Ambiguity
 Desirability
 Controllability