W5.D1 Definition of Culture
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Nairobi Institute of Technology - Westlands *
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MISC
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Health Science
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Nov 24, 2024
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docx
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W5.D1 Definition of Culture
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Culture refers to the shared beliefs, customs, practices, norms, and traditions shared by
individuals in a particular geographical location. It is beneficial in linking individuals together,
strengthening them, and fostering social harmony. For healthcare organizations and
professionals, the elements that should be included include language, symbols, norms, beliefs,
and values of diverse cultural backgrounds. Townsend (2022) suggests that healthcare settings
should embrace cultural elements to ensure their healthcare services are culturally responsive to
boost the population's health. Beliefs and values determine various cultural groups' acceptable
and unacceptable societal behaviours. Language forms a significant component of how people
communicate, and it offers a way for individuals to express themselves and includes verbal and
non-verbal communication. Symbols are essential constituents of the culture due to the varied
meanings that they portray regarding various cultures. Norms are the cultural aspects that
individuals adhere to or the standards established to guide people on acceptable and unacceptable
behaviours. Cultural norms are transmitted from one generation to another. All cultural elements
are important; no element is more important than others since they promote coexistence with
individuals from varied cultural backgrounds.
From personal experience, embracing cultural competence, respect, and diversity in
healthcare settings is essential. Nair & Adetayo (2019) suggest that cultural competence is
necessary to effectively serve the varied needs of individuals from different cultural
backgrounds. Health disparities characterize the healthcare settings, and the healthcare systems
must develop strategies for enhancing cultural competence and racial diversity. Cultural diversity
within the healthcare settings fosters collaboration within the healthcare settings since people
respect individuals from varied cultural backgrounds, which improves employees' performance.
It improves employee morale and boosts trust in the healthcare firm's performance. Cultural
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diversity reduces conflicts that could hinder the team members' productivity and performance
within the workplace. It promotes the healthcare professional's morale and improves their job
satisfaction. Cultural competence empowers the capacity of healthcare professionals to
effectively collaborate with people from varied cultures, enhancing healthcare encounters and
outcomes.
Cultural respect is significant in healthcare settings and involves respect for values,
beliefs, customs, actions, communications, thoughts, and language. Cultural respect should be
included in healthcare since it promotes positive impacts by ensuring superior quality care
delivery and overall patient outcomes (Townsend, 2022). It enables healthcare professionals to
provide healthcare services that are responsive and respectful to diverse populations' linguistic,
cultural, practices, and belief needs. Cultural respect is beneficial in eradicating health
inequalities. According to Nair & Adetayo (2019),
social determinants of health, including
economic stability, education quality and access, healthcare quality and access, built and
neighbourhood environments, and community and social contexts, contribute to health
disparities. The racial minority populations have unconducive social determinants of health,
leading to a lack of healthcare access, poor quality of health, and poor health outcomes.
Healthcare settings should embrace strategies for promoting racial diversity and cultural
competence to serve the diverse population's needs successfully. Therefore, healthcare settings
should offer culturally responsive services to enhance patient health outcomes.
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References
Nair, L., & Adetayo, O. A. (2019). Cultural competence and ethnic diversity in
healthcare.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open
,
7
(5).
Townsend, J. E. (2022, Revised). The Principles of HealthCare Administration. BNB Systems.
ISBN:
9780929442280