Some Jewish and Islamic women believe that modesty requires them to cover their head, arms, and legs with clothing. Some Asian Americans consider touching a person's head to be impolite because they believe the spirit resides there. In some cultures, such as Hispanic and Arab cultures, male healthcare providers may be prohibited from touching or examining certain parts of the female body, and female healthcare providers may have similar prohibitions when caring for male patients. Touchy situationsĪ patient's culture also influences whether he or she is comfortable being touched by a stranger, especially someone of the opposite sex. In general, people from North America and Great Britain require the most personal space those from Latin America, Japan, and the Middle East need the least and feel comfortable standing close to others. However, depending on your patient's cultural expectations, he or she may perceive you as threatening and invading his or her personal space. For example, if you sit close to your patient, he or she may perceive you as warm and caring. How you communicate also encompasses your body language and positioning, including how much space you keep between yourself and your patient. Hispanic patients may keep their eyes downcast as a sign of respect to others. For example, direct eye contact is considered impolite or aggressive in many American Indian, Indo-Chinese, and Arab cultures. In many cultures, the manner in which you communicate is as important as the words you say. Then choose communication strategies based on your patient's cultural system of beliefs. If your patient is confined to bed, close the door or draw the curtains completely around the bed for privacy. When you assess a patient from a different culture, talk with him or her in a quiet setting where you won't be disturbed. Become involved with various cultural groups by volunteering in the community, attending cultural festivals, or reading literature or listening to music from other cultures. You can also increase your awareness of other cultures through information from a library or on the Internet and by talking with others. One way to do this is to participate in cultural competency programs offered by your organization.
Next, learn what you can about other cultures. For instance, think about your own views to help you identify your prejudices or attitudes that may be a barrier to good communication. Your first step toward cultural competence is simply being aware of your own cultural beliefs. increasing patient satisfaction and decreasing stress for you and your patient.making more effective use of time spent with your patient.improving patient safety and clinical outcomes by minimizing misunderstandings.
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Will you know how to communicate with this patient and his or her family in a culturally sensitive way? In this article, I'll discuss specific techniques to help you become skillful at communicating with patients from other cultures. Your next patient may be from Laos, Haiti, or Peru, and he or she might not speak English. Malaria: Has your patient traveled recently?.Nurses and smoking cessation: Get on the road to success.QSEN competencies: A bridge to practice.
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