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Culture Heritage Assessment

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Submitted By amandie24
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Culture, Heritage & Health
Culture & Cultural Competency in Health Promotion

Culture, Heritage & Health
This paper will discuss culture and the cultural characteristics that can be associated with various groups and the affect it can have on one’s health in aspects of health protection, maintenance and restoration. It will also discuss the usefulness of a heritage assessment tool in providing better care for patients. The differences will be viewed based on culture in health protection, maintenance and restoration.
A heritage assessment tool is a means to capture a snapshot view of one’s culture/heritage. Culture is defined as “an element of ethnicity, consists of shared patterns of values and behaviors that characterize a particular group. It is “shaped by values, beliefs, norms, and practices that are shared by members of the same cultural group” (Edelman & Mandle, 2006) In examining a patient’s heritage, it can provide an opportunity for better understanding in providing the best care possible for a patient. Madeleine Leininger is the founder of the transcultural nursing theory, but many have followed in her footsteps and built on that initial idea. The Giger and Davidhizar Transcultural Model is another tool that can be used. The model encompasses six cultural phenomena to be assessed: 1) Communication, which encompasses verbal and non-verbal communication and can be seen as the biggest barrier in working with clients from different backgrounds. 2) Space which is defined by personal space, more specifically the distance between individuals when communicating. 3) Social organization which refers to the manner in which one organizes themselves around family, religious groups, and role assignments. 4) Time which takes into consideration that certain cultures view time differently and can be past, present or future oriented. 5)

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