Question

Why is it important to understand transcultural healthcare?

Answer 1

Transcultural healthcare refers to organized provision of medical care to people from different cultures by being sensitive to cultural differences. As a nurse, developing transcultural skills is highly essential. This enables her to care for people from different cultural backgrounds, respect all the cultures, their beliefs and notions as well as practice healthcare according to the cultural needs.

Multicultural population is increasing especially in countries like the United States. People from various cultural backgrounds and ethnic groups live and collaborate with one another without surrendering their own individualities.

When more than one culture or ethnic group is present in a society, it is highly important to provide quality care according to the cultural needs of each group. A healthcare provider must be able to:

• Understand cultural differences
• Understand how certain ideologies influence culture
• Provide support according to the cultural demands
• Reduce minority health disparities
• Provide care to vulnerable population who are from backward cultural backgrounds
• Address healthcare issues that are influenced by cultural beliefs.

It is important to understand transcultural care because:

• It enables the healthcare provider to provide quality care to all population
• It helps in addressing culturally sensitive issues related to healthcare
• It helps in overcoming language barrier while caring for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds
• It helps in integrating people from different cultures and provide quality care for them
• It enables in providing care to those people who have less access to healthcare due to societal disregard and discrimination.
• It is helpful in overcoming health care issues related to cultural beliefs like dietary restrictions, notions relating to specific healthcare practices, etc.
• It helps to provide care according to specific health needs of different cultural groups.
• It enables in understanding and differentiating certain beliefs and practices that are hindrance to healthcare as well as wellbeing of the patient.