Exploring the Myth: Cultural Values Have Little Influence on Health
As societies become increasingly diverse, healthcare professionals must take heed of cultural differences that can impact patients’ health outcomes. Cultural values and beliefs play a pivotal role in healthcare and may have a significant influence on patients’ health. This article dispels the myth that cultural values have little bearing on health and emphasizes the importance of healthcare practitioners accounting for cultural values.
Defining Culture
Culture refers to the set of shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors that shape an individual’s identity and guide their worldview. Culture is often passed down from one generation to the next, and it can influence the way people perceive health and wellness. Every cultural group has a unique set of beliefs and practices related to health and disease.
Culture and Health
Culture profoundly impacts health-related beliefs and behaviors. For example, some cultures view mental health disorders as a stigma, and many individuals hold a range of beliefs about the causes of mental illness. Others may turn to alternative healing methods, such as acupuncture or herbal remedies, to manage health issues. To effectively treat patients, healthcare practitioners must be mindful of these cultural differences and provide care that takes into account patients’ cultural backgrounds.
Examples of the Influence of Culture on Health
A range of examples exists regarding the role of cultural values and health, including:
– In some cultures, expressing pain may be viewed as a sign of weakness. Patients from such backgrounds may underreport pain and seek treatment late.
– Certain cultures may consider seeking medical attention to be a grave matter that is only acceptable in dire circumstances. Health professionals should view patients from such backgrounds as a unique challenge in detecting early stages of illness.
– Different cultures may approach end-of-life matters differently. Some may prefer their family members to make decisions about their treatment, while others may choose to handle on their own.
The Role of Healthcare Providers in Bridging the Cultural Gap
Healthcare providers need to acknowledge cultural considerations in their delivery of care. To ensure patients receive the best possible care, they must be aware of their patients’ cultural backgrounds. This can include:
– Providing interpreter services to enable patients who are not fluent in the language in which medical services are being offered, to understand information about their care.
– Familiarizing themselves with the cultural norms and values of specific communities to ensure that interpersonal communication is adequate and to guide their medical practice.
– Encouraging sensitivity to cultural beliefs and practices to assure the patients that they are working with a supportive healthcare professional.
Conclusion
The impact of cultural values and beliefs on health is a widely recognized topic, with existing examples like ethnicity, race, language, socio-demographic factors, cultural identity and health behaviors. Health professionals must understand and acknowledge the importance of such values and beliefs. Cultural competence in healthcare must be fostered and embraced to achieve equitable health outcomes. By doing so, we enable a more inclusive culture to emerge, thereby, helping to bridge the cultural gap in healthcare around the world.
