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Examples Of Cultural Competency

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One of the most integral parts of cultural competency is the process of successfully becoming culturally competent. After synthesizing available research on the topic I have constructed four main steps in becoming culturally competent. Those include self-awareness, understanding various aspects of the culturally diverse population for whom you care for, practice evidence based medicine as it relates to culturally diverse populations and continuing education (Kodjo, 2009; Purnell, 2012).
The first step includes becoming self aware of one’s own beliefs. Without this step, it is not possible to begin to accept other the cultures of others. For example, when counseling a patient on a topic and throughout the session the patients provides decisions …show more content…

It is vital for health care providers to incorporate a person’s specific cultural elements to provide patients with the same ideal care that is provided to everyone (Kodjo, 2009). For example, many cultures have gender-specific views and those in that cultural group may desire care from a health care provider that is of the same gender as they are. Thus any future appointment with the patient in the primary care setting the health care providers would need to ensure the patient’s ideals are respected and the physician of the same gender is overseeing their care (Purnell, 2008). This should never be taken personally, but rather as step in the direction of providing the patient with the paramount …show more content…

Tailoring a therapeutic intervention to specific cultural needs of a patient is a critical part of patient centered care. For example if there is a therapy option that is ideal for the patient based of clinical evidence, but the patients refuse due to cultural issues, then it is not the best option for the patient (Engebretson, Mahoney, & Carlson, 2008; Romana, 2006; Purnell, 2008). This is a difficult concept for many health care providers to accept. Numerous health care providers believe that if a treatment plan has the greatest evidence based support there is no question the patient should begin that course of treatment, and at times they may disregard the patients’ opinion. Many will attempt to change the patient’s ideals to fit what the physician has determined as being the optimal health plan. However, this does not coincide with being culturally competent. Health care providers must be open to different approaches to the same problem and be willing to investigate all options to come to a conclusion that takes into consideration the patients cultural beliefs (Kodjo,

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