Question

In your own words, describe key components of a comprehensive cultural assessment

Answer 1

Ans) The basic premise of the cultural assessment is that patients have a right to their cultural beliefs, values, and practices, and that these factors should be understood, respected, and considered when giving culturally competent care.

- While many ethno-cultural assessment tools exist to guide nursing practice, few are informed by research perspectives. An increased focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of health services, patient safety, and risk management, means that provision of culturally responsive and competent health services will inevitably become paramount.

- The term cultural competence may be used to describe the capacity of both individual practitioners and health care provision organizations to effectively meet the needs of patients from diverse social, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. EXTTR Cultural competence is informed by a thorough and in-depth understanding of the factors that configure and shape health experiences of diverse ethno-cultural groups and consequentially demands more than a focus on culture, such that:

• Cultural competence refers to whole systems of care in addition to individual practitioners;

• Cultural competence is must be of concern to every level of staff in a health care organization

• Effective communication is a fundamental dimension;

• Cultural knowledge is significant however, alone maybe insufficient;

• The wider socio-economic and political of the lived experience are as significant as the ethno-cultural orientation

• Cultural awareness and self-reflection are important components; and,

• Sensitivity, cultural humility e.g. the desire to find out more and innovation are key components of service configuration.

- Cultural competence also includes aspects such as good knowledge of communites, strong leadership, innovative and fexible environments and continous good training and support.

- A number of different definitions of cultural competence have been offered and several different models have been suggested, in attempts to identify the key components of culturally competent care and ways in which practitioners and organisations can enhance their performance in this area. The key dimensions and definitions of cultural competence below; these can be assessed and developed at the level of the individual, team, service, organisation or wider healthcare system.