5 Steps to Cultural Competence
Cultural competence in healthcare encompasses a variety of knowledge. From the patient’s socioeconomic background to the various medical restrictions among certain religions, healthcare providers must somehow have the necessary knowledge and mindset to provide the best possible healthcare. Although this might initially seem daunting, it can be quite simple.
Below I have outlined the 5 steps to cultural competence as originally stated by Rachel E. Spector. This clear outline will guide your journey to cultural competence in a straightforward way.
Step 1: Understand your personal heritage. Who are you? What is your heritage?
Heritage is defined as the family culture, ethnicity, and/or religion into which one is born. It is an inherited legacy as opposed to culture, which refers to the beliefs and behaviors of a group of people. It is important to know your own heritage to understand the traditional views of health and illness throughout your family history. It is also important to recognize that people of different heritages may have different views regarding healthcare.
Step 2: Know the heritage of others
Knowing the heritage of the people in the community in which you practice healthcare can make a radical difference in the way you treat a patient. For example, if you are an obstetrician-gynecologist practicing in Dearborn, Michigan, which is a city known for its large Muslim population, and a pregnant Muslim woman comes into your clinic, you may have to take into account that Muslim women are usually known to be more modest, so they may prefer a female physician over a male physician.
Step 3: Recognize the various health beliefs and practices
There are many health care philosophies practiced in the world. You should note that patients may choose to follow a healthcare path other than allopathic/western medicine. Some of your patients may go to a chiropractor, others may prefer an osteopathic approach to healthcare, etc. Possessing knowledge about the different philosophies of healthcare your patients follow is critical as it may impact the medical procedures recommended to the patient. Hence, you should create an environment in which the patient is comfortable telling you that they might follow other healthcare philosophies in conjunction with the allopathic way.
Step 4: Be aware of the healthcare culture and system
The healthcare culture and system refers to the current way of functioning in western allopathic hospitals. Allopathic healthcare is a conventional system of medicine that embraces all methods of proven science (ex. community/public health, psychiatric/mental health, and rehabilitation). It encompasses the beliefs, practices, habits, customs, and expectations of the healthcare system. This may include the belief of technology, emphasis on diagnostic procedures, the use of a systematic approach and problem-solving methodology, promptness, organization, and recovery no matter the cost. You should know the way the western healthcare system typically works in order to recognize shortcomings with it and suggest improvements.
Step 5: Know the traditional healthcare systems
Traditional healthcare systems refer to the way health was viewed before the advent of technology. It could include past views of healthcare that have carried into the present. Some examples include Ayurvedic medicine, Qi Gong, Voodoo, among other traditional healthcare systems. Similar to knowing the various health beliefs and practices, a patient who practices traditional healthcare systems along with allopathic medicine might be recommended different healthcare procedures.
Spector, Rachel E. Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness.Pearson, 2017.
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
