The concept of culture is central to the discipline: anthropology may be defined as the study of humankind's biological and cultural capacities (Joralemon 2010: 6). Ones' culture will define who they are and where they came from; the full range of learned behavior patters that an individual experiences. It is the concept of shared characteristics of a given social group and the patterns of behavior as a result of this (Joralemon 2010: 137).
Video retrieved from https://exchanges.state.gov/us/connect
As stated by the National Institutes of Health in 2013, culture is the combination of a body of behavior, a body of knowledge, and a body of belief that involves many aspects including values, beliefs, customs, actions, thoughts, communication which pertain to racial background, ethnicity, religion or social groups (NIH, 2013).
Cultural competency is an effective mechanism for patient care delivery which enables the providers to deliver services that are responsive and respectful of cultural background, health beliefs, practices and linguistic needs of these diverse patients (NIH, 2013). Cultural competency is crucial for reducing health discrepancies and enhancing the access of high-quality health care to the vast population of patients; it also professionals to efficiently and effectively understand the needs of accessing health information and health care (NIH, 2013). NIH also stated that cultural competency ensures improved healthcare for all Americans and is critical for achieving accuracy in medical research.
In Exploring Medical Anthropology, Joralemon (2010) states that cultural competence is commonly known as "cultural incompetence". This is referring to a negative example which states that seeing what happens when cultures are not sufficiently factored into the relationship between themselves and their doctors. Joralemon also states that it is the ability to consider cultural factors in the prevention and treatment of disease; includes the cultural influences on caregivers and patients (pg. 137).
In a more clear view, cultural competency is the capacity to understand, to cooperate and to communicate effectively with people from different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Cultural competency is composed of four categories to come out with the big picture: being aware of your own culture's views, your attitude towards the differences within cultures, the knowledge of different cultural traditions, and skills needed to be able go back and forth between cultures.
As stated by the National Institutes of Health in 2013, culture is the combination of a body of behavior, a body of knowledge, and a body of belief that involves many aspects including values, beliefs, customs, actions, thoughts, communication which pertain to racial background, ethnicity, religion or social groups (NIH, 2013).
Cultural competency is an effective mechanism for patient care delivery which enables the providers to deliver services that are responsive and respectful of cultural background, health beliefs, practices and linguistic needs of these diverse patients (NIH, 2013). Cultural competency is crucial for reducing health discrepancies and enhancing the access of high-quality health care to the vast population of patients; it also professionals to efficiently and effectively understand the needs of accessing health information and health care (NIH, 2013). NIH also stated that cultural competency ensures improved healthcare for all Americans and is critical for achieving accuracy in medical research.
In Exploring Medical Anthropology, Joralemon (2010) states that cultural competence is commonly known as "cultural incompetence". This is referring to a negative example which states that seeing what happens when cultures are not sufficiently factored into the relationship between themselves and their doctors. Joralemon also states that it is the ability to consider cultural factors in the prevention and treatment of disease; includes the cultural influences on caregivers and patients (pg. 137).
In a more clear view, cultural competency is the capacity to understand, to cooperate and to communicate effectively with people from different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Cultural competency is composed of four categories to come out with the big picture: being aware of your own culture's views, your attitude towards the differences within cultures, the knowledge of different cultural traditions, and skills needed to be able go back and forth between cultures.
Cultural Competency in Medical Anthropology
Applied Medical Anthropology
Applied medical anthropologists work with cultural competency in a multitude of ways in the United States health care fields. The anthropologists in this field like to conclude that this term is used to understand the structures culturally and socially are supported by bio-medicine (Joralemon 2010: 97). All the people involved must work together to improve communication and interventions between the health care workers and the people within the society to understand the reasoning of disease. These anthropologists; therefore, have a difficult time working on the international level with cultural competency due to finding a common ground between critiquing a health care system and making it function (Joralemon 2010: 97). Ultimately, the effectiveness of these techniques within the medical field will enhance the treatment protocols for individuals.
|
Critical Medical Anthropology
Critical medical anthropologists work with cultural competency in different aspects than applied medical anthropologists. These anthropologists are concerned with the lifestyles of patients seeking medical attention which include where the patients came from and what their genetic background consists of. This information will aid in the understanding of treatment plans that these patients could potentially participate in when and if a medical crisis where to occur. If the health care facilities in America were welcoming of various cultural backgrounds, the overall medical experience would be effective for all individuals involved. In Exploring Medical Anthropology, Joralemon (2010) stated that these anthropologists are concerned with succeeding at these levels within the health care facilities to ultimately improve the lives of these patients within a society. |
Chelsey Victor • Utica College • Cultures, Health and Healing - ANT 415 • Spring 2014