Cultural Overview

Culture Definition: It is the act of belonging to a designated group. It refers to the norms and practices of a particular group that are learned, shared, and transcended through generations. These norms/practices guide our thinking, decision making, and actions, therefore influencing our health care choices and practices.

Culture It provides security and reassurance. All humans have a large need to feel connected and bonded with other people. If bonds are weak and we do not feel connected, it affects our health and wellness.

Culture Culture is a learned behavior. It is not biologically inherited. It is transmitted from generation to generation through social, religious, and school activities. These behaviors are learned through osmosis. The behaviors become absorbed through repetition and positive reinforcement.

How Culture is Reflected in our Daily Lives Eating Habits Language Dress Hobbies Living Patterns Occupation Choices Education Religious Affiliations Political Points

Culture also affects our interpersonal relationships: Marriages Communication Patterns Sexual Habits

Acculturation This is the process of learning cultural behaviors from one group or person. It is an unconscious fusion of attitudes and beliefs. In the U.S. acculturation is always occurring because we are a melting pot of many different cultures. In addition, each culture contains many subcultures, which have different behaviors.

Acculturation Defining each culture’s characteristics is impossible because of acculturation. Health care workers must be mindful of this, and not assume that one belief of a certain cultural group is true for each patient in that bracket. However, be aware of some consistent beliefs and attitudes and be willing to accept the patient’s beliefs in order to care for them. It is important to try and understand beliefs, even if you don’t agree with them.

Ethnography This is a branch of anthropology that studies and records various human cultures. Health care educators look at research information from ethnographic studies and teach providers to become culturally competent.

Cultural Competence This is the ability to meet the health care needs of patients while meeting and adhering to their cultural values, beliefs, and practices. It requires sensitivity of the patient’s needs and wants and an understanding of their views and values.

Primary Ethnic groups in the U.S. Anglo-American: Refers to Western European countries, such as England, France, Ireland, and Germany. Latino: Refers to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, and South and Central America. African-American: Refers to ancestry from any of the countries within the African subcontinent.

Ethnic Groups Continued Asian-American: Among the 17 Asian subcategories are Bangladesh, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Thailand, and Vietnamese. American Indian: The 2000 census data identified 36 tribes in this category, including Apache, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Houma, Navajo, Ottawa, Pueblo, Seminole, and Sioux.

Ethnic Groups Continued Alaska Native: Includes four main subgroups: Alaskan Athabaskan, Aleut, Eskimo, and Tlingt-Haida. Arab: Includes Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Lebanese, Moroccan, Palestinian, and Syrian.