Cultural Competency
Health inequities exist between different cultures. Culture is complex, and include:
- Gender
- Religious & spiritual beliefs
- Age
- Employment status
- Socio-economic status
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
Cultural competence involves:
- An awareness of cultural diversity and the ability to function effectively, and respectfully, when working with and treating people of different cultural backgrounds
- Ensuring clinical environment is inclusive of patients cultural needs
- Healthcare providers navigating the healthcare system for patients
Principles of Cultural Competence
Include:
- Respect and understanding
- Understand privelege and disadvantage
- Identification of cultural biases and norms which influence healthcare
- Culturally appropriate communication
- Sensitivity to patients needs and wishes
- Patient-centred practice
- Tailor care to patient needs
- Avoid generalising to assuming a patients needs based on their status or cultural group
- Empower patient to take full advantage of healthcare services available
- Demonstrate respect, compassion, and competence
- Partnership
- Sensitivity to power gradient between doctor and patient
- Anaesthetic-specific
- Period of vulnerability
- Cultural perceptions of pain