Human DiversityRTEC A

Spring 2009

What is Human Diversity?1. Is also known as cultural diversity.

2. It means the inherent differences among people.

3. It addresses the entirety of the ways people are different and alike.

Characteristics of Human Diversity

Age Disability Economic status Education Geographic location Organizational level Political affiliation Sexual orientation

Ethnicity Family status First language Gender Lifestyle Physical

characteristics Religion Work style or ethic

GlobalizationPeople go to other countries for:

Work School Medical care Visit / Vacation Live / Relocate Refuge / Safety

Globalization’s Effect Nation, societies and businesses have become

multicultural or cross cultural

Strategies must be employed to understand cultural differences and to mediate conflicts

A concerted effort toward cultural competency

Cultural Competency leads to more satisfied patients Cultural Competency means: possessing a set

of attitudes, behaviors, and policies that come together in a system or among individuals that enable effective interactions in a cross-cultural framework.

Personal Bias Everyone has at least one personal bias.

Cultural bias is when someone is biased due to his or her culture. Culture play a major role in how individuals perceive others.

What is one personal bias YOU have?

Age For example: Some cultures assign different

values based on age. Asian culture vs European & Western cultures

Baby boom generation Are expected to stay in the workforce longer

because they are expected to live longer than previous generations. America is expected to transform many areas, including health care, labor, politics, retirement systems, and social services. This expectation forces an overview and overhaul of social mores and prejudices regarding older adults in the job market to their end-of-life care. AARP

Ethnicity, National Origin, & Race Ethnicity relates to a person's distinctive

racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.

The United States has long considered itself a melting pot of people

with diverse ethnic

heritages

Trends in the U.S. The census addresses trends in growth,

projecting that the U.S. Hispanic population will grow at a faster rate than all other minority groups. Further projections include data suggesting that the current majority ethnic group will lose that designation within the current century because of the combined growth among the now minority groups and immigrants.

Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism is regarded as the tendency of

some individuals to view norms and values of their own culture as the only acceptable ones and to use them as the standard by which all other cultures are measured

Ethnocentrism is not effective when providing patient care

Racism Racism is the belief that one race or culture is

superior to others and using this belief to discriminate against races they consider inferior

Medical Imaging and Quality Health Care – Informed Consent One of the major concerns related to cultural

diversity is linguistic differences. A patient cannot be truly informed if he or she

does not understand what is trying to be communicated to them

Overcome linguistic barriers to quality health care by: Hiring additional bilingual and bicultural staff Providing medical interpreters Providing translators Encouraging employees to become bilingual

or multilingual Providing medical documents (e.g., consent

forms) in different languages

Gender Or Sexual Orientation Many people are predisposed in their thinking

as to what boys should do and what little girls should do. e.g., pink for girls, blue for boys

Sexual orientation is another area of diversity often found under the topic of gender

Mental or Physical Disability

Mental or physical ability is the capacity to perform cognitive and psychomotor tasks with average ability

Those with disabilities have been shunned Seen as objects or assistance, protection and

treatment 600 million or 10% of the world have some

form of disability

Embracing Diversity

Living and working in a diverse society is challenging.

Civility and respect for others is expected as health care providers.

This respect comes from individuals and begins with first learning about other cultures

Elements of Cultural Competency Valuing Diversity

Possessing the capacity for cultural self assessment

Having a consciousness of the dynamics of cross cultural interaction

Institutionalizing cultural knowledge

Developing adaptations of service based on an understanding of multiculturalism

Four Core Values of Human Rights Autonomy

Dignity

Equality

Solidarity

Empathetic Practices Communication- Making quick powerful

connections with patients.

Assessment and communication - gathering culturally relevant information

Negotiating-working with patients to form strategies that meet their individual needs, the needs of the provider, and the needs of the medical facility or practice

The application of empathy skills by health care providers: Promotes better health care outcomes overall

Increases patient satisfaction

Decreases health care costs

Decreases provider liability

Cultural Competency Becoming culturally competent is no easy

task, but it is an essential one Health care providers must learn to value

human diversity and to become culturally competent