Human DiversityRTEC A
Spring 2009
What is Human Diversity?1. Is also known as cultural diversity.
2. It means the inherent differences among people.
3. It addresses the entirety of the ways people are different and alike.
Characteristics of Human Diversity
Age Disability Economic status Education Geographic location Organizational level Political affiliation Sexual orientation
Ethnicity Family status First language Gender Lifestyle Physical
characteristics Religion Work style or ethic
GlobalizationPeople go to other countries for:
Work School Medical care Visit / Vacation Live / Relocate Refuge / Safety
Globalization’s Effect Nation, societies and businesses have become
multicultural or cross cultural
Strategies must be employed to understand cultural differences and to mediate conflicts
A concerted effort toward cultural competency
Cultural Competency leads to more satisfied patients Cultural Competency means: possessing a set
of attitudes, behaviors, and policies that come together in a system or among individuals that enable effective interactions in a cross-cultural framework.
Personal Bias Everyone has at least one personal bias.
Cultural bias is when someone is biased due to his or her culture. Culture play a major role in how individuals perceive others.
What is one personal bias YOU have?
Age For example: Some cultures assign different
values based on age. Asian culture vs European & Western cultures
Baby boom generation Are expected to stay in the workforce longer
because they are expected to live longer than previous generations. America is expected to transform many areas, including health care, labor, politics, retirement systems, and social services. This expectation forces an overview and overhaul of social mores and prejudices regarding older adults in the job market to their end-of-life care. AARP
Ethnicity, National Origin, & Race Ethnicity relates to a person's distinctive
racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.
The United States has long considered itself a melting pot of people
with diverse ethnic
heritages
Trends in the U.S. The census addresses trends in growth,
projecting that the U.S. Hispanic population will grow at a faster rate than all other minority groups. Further projections include data suggesting that the current majority ethnic group will lose that designation within the current century because of the combined growth among the now minority groups and immigrants.
Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism is regarded as the tendency of
some individuals to view norms and values of their own culture as the only acceptable ones and to use them as the standard by which all other cultures are measured
Ethnocentrism is not effective when providing patient care
Racism Racism is the belief that one race or culture is
superior to others and using this belief to discriminate against races they consider inferior
Medical Imaging and Quality Health Care – Informed Consent One of the major concerns related to cultural
diversity is linguistic differences. A patient cannot be truly informed if he or she
does not understand what is trying to be communicated to them
Overcome linguistic barriers to quality health care by: Hiring additional bilingual and bicultural staff Providing medical interpreters Providing translators Encouraging employees to become bilingual
or multilingual Providing medical documents (e.g., consent
forms) in different languages
Gender Or Sexual Orientation Many people are predisposed in their thinking
as to what boys should do and what little girls should do. e.g., pink for girls, blue for boys
Sexual orientation is another area of diversity often found under the topic of gender
Mental or Physical Disability
Mental or physical ability is the capacity to perform cognitive and psychomotor tasks with average ability
Those with disabilities have been shunned Seen as objects or assistance, protection and
treatment 600 million or 10% of the world have some
form of disability
Embracing Diversity
Living and working in a diverse society is challenging.
Civility and respect for others is expected as health care providers.
This respect comes from individuals and begins with first learning about other cultures
Elements of Cultural Competency Valuing Diversity
Possessing the capacity for cultural self assessment
Having a consciousness of the dynamics of cross cultural interaction
Institutionalizing cultural knowledge
Developing adaptations of service based on an understanding of multiculturalism
Four Core Values of Human Rights Autonomy
Dignity
Equality
Solidarity
Empathetic Practices Communication- Making quick powerful
connections with patients.
Assessment and communication - gathering culturally relevant information
Negotiating-working with patients to form strategies that meet their individual needs, the needs of the provider, and the needs of the medical facility or practice
The application of empathy skills by health care providers: Promotes better health care outcomes overall
Increases patient satisfaction
Decreases health care costs
Decreases provider liability
Cultural Competency Becoming culturally competent is no easy
task, but it is an essential one Health care providers must learn to value
human diversity and to become culturally competent