Chapter 9: Cultural Awareness
Health Disparity
o A particular type of health difference that is closely linked with
social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage
Social Determinants of health
o The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and
age, shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources
at global, national, and local levels
o Mostly responsible for health disparities seen with and between
countries
o Marginalized groups are more likely to have poor health
outcomes and die earlier because of a complex interaction
among their individual behaviors, environment of the
communities they live in, the policies and practices of health
care and governmental systems
Examples of marginalized groups: gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender, people of color, people who are physically or
mentally challenged, and people who are not college
educated.
Health Disparities and Health Care
o Health Care Disparities
Differences among populations in the availability,
accessibility, and. Quality of health care services
o Addressing health care disparities
Focus on cultural competency, health literacy, and patient
and family-centered care
Recognize the valuing each patient’s unique needs
improves the overall safety and quality of care and helps to
eliminate health disparities
, Culture: is a learned behavior, yet it is constantly changing in response
to environment, biological, political, and social influences
o Norms, values, and traditions
o Ethnicity, race, nationality, and language
o Gender, sexual orientation, location, class, and immigration
status
Culturally driven Bias’s
o Unconscious Bias
A bias we are unaware of and that happens outside our
control; influenced by our personal background, cultural
environment, and personal experience
Typically directs one to make quick judgment and
assessments of people and situations
o Implicit Bias
Like unconscious bias but we are aware of the bias that is
present
We are responsible for implicit bias and mist recognize and
acknowledge out actions as they impact our behavior,
decisions, and patient-centered care provided.
Intersectionality: is a research and policy model used to study the
complexities of people’s lives and experiences
o Belonging simultaneously to multiple social groups
o Each of us is at an intersection of two groups
Oppression
A system of advantages and disadvantages tied to
our membership in social groups
Occurs at individual and group experiences
Privilege
Culturally Congruent Care
o Also called Transcultural Nursing
A comparative study of cultures to understand their
similarities and differences
o Culturally congruent care
2
Health Disparity
o A particular type of health difference that is closely linked with
social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage
Social Determinants of health
o The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and
age, shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources
at global, national, and local levels
o Mostly responsible for health disparities seen with and between
countries
o Marginalized groups are more likely to have poor health
outcomes and die earlier because of a complex interaction
among their individual behaviors, environment of the
communities they live in, the policies and practices of health
care and governmental systems
Examples of marginalized groups: gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender, people of color, people who are physically or
mentally challenged, and people who are not college
educated.
Health Disparities and Health Care
o Health Care Disparities
Differences among populations in the availability,
accessibility, and. Quality of health care services
o Addressing health care disparities
Focus on cultural competency, health literacy, and patient
and family-centered care
Recognize the valuing each patient’s unique needs
improves the overall safety and quality of care and helps to
eliminate health disparities
, Culture: is a learned behavior, yet it is constantly changing in response
to environment, biological, political, and social influences
o Norms, values, and traditions
o Ethnicity, race, nationality, and language
o Gender, sexual orientation, location, class, and immigration
status
Culturally driven Bias’s
o Unconscious Bias
A bias we are unaware of and that happens outside our
control; influenced by our personal background, cultural
environment, and personal experience
Typically directs one to make quick judgment and
assessments of people and situations
o Implicit Bias
Like unconscious bias but we are aware of the bias that is
present
We are responsible for implicit bias and mist recognize and
acknowledge out actions as they impact our behavior,
decisions, and patient-centered care provided.
Intersectionality: is a research and policy model used to study the
complexities of people’s lives and experiences
o Belonging simultaneously to multiple social groups
o Each of us is at an intersection of two groups
Oppression
A system of advantages and disadvantages tied to
our membership in social groups
Occurs at individual and group experiences
Privilege
Culturally Congruent Care
o Also called Transcultural Nursing
A comparative study of cultures to understand their
similarities and differences
o Culturally congruent care
2
