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In any given situation, there are many cultural influences at work. As a health staff member it helps if you are able to detect when your culture does not connect with the culture of your patient/client.
Take a look at the cartoon below. It depicts a health staff member and a client in a clinic.
Although it's not immediately apparent, there are up to four different cultures in this room. Select cultures 1 to 4 to find out more.
The health staff
The health staff member has his or her own particular cultural background and belief system.
The patient
The client has his or her own personal culture. It may or may not clash with the culture of the health staff member.
The area around the patient
Sometimes the client also brings a traditional medical culture.
The entire room
The medical system is a culture, too. It's probably based on the Western biomedical tradition.
In the story of Mary and Jake, neither Mary's culture nor her medical tradition connected with Jake's culture.
According to Mary
The most important aim is to treat the illness or injury.
According to the Western biomedical tradition
The most important aim is to treat the illness or injury.
According to Jake
The most important aim is to establish a relationship.
Neither belief is right.
Neither belief is wrong.
These are simply cultural differences.
And it's important to realise that you have a culture too!
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