Understanding Cultural Diversity

Health Team Relations

Holistic Care

• Definition: Care for the well-being of the whole person.

Family Organization

• Nuclear

• Extended

Nuclear or Extended

• Hispanic American

• Native American

• Polish American

• Italian American

• African American

• British American

Family Organization

Patriarchal Matriarchal

Language

• Dominant language in U.S. is ENGLISH

• What percent of U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home?

• 20%

• Health care workers must ask questions to determine the patient’s ability to communicate.

• When possible, find a translator.

Techniques for Non-English Speaking Patients

• Speak slowly and use simple words

• Use gestures or pictures

• Use non-verbal – smile and touch

• DON’T speak louder

• Learn a few essential words and phrases

Personal Space and Touch

• Close contact vs. distant contact cultures

Stay out of my space!

Personal Space and Touch

• Arab• French & Latin

Americans• Hispanic

Americans• Gender• European &

African Americans• Asian Americans

• Cambodia• Vietnamese• Middle Eastern• Native American

Eye Contact

• European Americans• Maintaining eye contact sign of interest and

trustworthiness

Eye Contact

• What about other cultures?

Gestures

• Hand gestures mean different things in different countries.

• Health care workers must be sensitive when using hand gestures