cultural competence adam goodpasture mitch montgomery sara nelson kat mcnally
TRANSCRIPT
Cultural Competence can be defined as:
• a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals and enable that system, agency, or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations (American Physical Therapy Association)
• The ability of providers and organizations to effectively deliver health care services that meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients (Betancourt, et al)
Cultural Competence in Physical Therapy
• Prepare yourself, and educate your colleagues
• Recognize cultural differences in:• Religion• Dress• Family dynamics• Decision making• Role of children and elders as
helpers/translators/decision-makers• Healthcare expectations
Educating Colleagues
• Cultural competence is a team effort
• Professional responsibilities:• Educating yourself (it’s an ongoing
process!)• Educating others• Sharing information• Asking when you don’t know
Language: The Beginning
• A language barrier does NOT mean:• That either party is less intelligent than the
other• That you cannot provide treatment• That you don’t have options
www.dliflc.edu
Language
• A language barrier DOES mean:• That you, as a professional, can adapt• That treatment may be more difficult, but is
not impossible• That you can consider your options• Learn words in the patient’s language• Refer patient to a therapist that speaks
their native tongue• Refer patient to a facility with a translator
Religion
• Adapting treatment to fit the patient’s beliefs• In some religions, it is considered disrespectful to touch
someone in a particular area or reveal certain parts of your body.
• Must respect the beliefs of your patients/clients, even if they are not similar to your own.
• Understand that some treatments will not be appropriate for certain religions, and will need to be adapted.
• Religious beliefs can influence patient treatment goals.
Dress• Different cultures have different expectations for appropriate
dress.• Some patients/clients will be uncomfortable with revealing
certain parts of their bodies, due to their culture or religion• hijab (headscarf)• skirt (many Christian religions)• Yarmulke (Orthodox Jewish faith)
• Must learn to adapt therapy to maintain patient comfort
Museumofbadideas.blogspot.com
Family Dynamics
• Family hierarchy is different in all cultures.
• Must be willing to respect input from patient’s family
• Primary decision maker may be different• Age or gender may not be a factor
www.londonnfp.com
Decision Making
• Based upon:• Cultural expectations• Religious beliefs• Familial expectations• Non-scientific or spiritual influences
Role of Children and Elders• As translators• As primary decision makers• As mediators • As key players in the treatment process
latinoleadershipcouncil.wordpress.com
Healthcare Expectations• May be different from what you think is “normal”• Are valid even if they differ from the “norm”• Are determined by a conversation• Need to be tailored to the individual
limitstogrowth.org
Cultural INcompetence
• Failing to be sensitive to differences
• Failing to consider patient’s background
• Treating all patients as similar
• Treating a language barrier as incompetence
Cultural Incompetence: Examples
• Asking a patient to remove an article of clothing that may violate their religious beliefs
• Making a negative comment about culture, religion, language, race, etc.
• Treating a patient as secondary because of a language difference
Identify with the Patient
• Patients should know:• That their treatment is your first priority• That they are involved in the decision making
process• That their values and beliefs are respected• That they can say no if they are uncomfortable
with something for any reason
Identify with the Patient
• Patients should never:• Feel pressured into doing something they are
uncomfortable with• Feel unimportant
• Patients should feel:• Unafraid to ask questions• Unafraid to share fears, feelings, discomfort,
expectations, etc.
How to Improve
Take the ATPA Cultural Competence Self-Test
Experience something outside of your comfort zone
Resources
• http://www.apta.org• Your colleagues
• Community Groups• Local Civic and Advocacy Associations
• Other clinics• Hospitals
• Religious and community leaders