Strategies of Cultural Competence.
Introduction
Cultural competence is the ability of healthcare workers to display the ability to work with communities of diverse cultures in the provision of healthcare. Mostly, people vary in learning and practice, and this difference affects various aspects of life, including health. Significantly, most indigenous groups, including the Native Americans, are subject to divergent views based on their cultures.
Significantly, it is has been noted over the years that as a result of beliefs and traditions, the Alaska Americans or American Indians are likely to hold divergent views about medicine. There is a particular inclination towards magic and supernatural beliefs among these groups. On the other side, they have an equally great history of the use of herbal medicine. Therefore, to achieve better healthcare results, there is a need for cultural competence strategies.
Strategies of Cultural Competence.
Significantly, there is a need to learn more about communities such as the American Indians. Learning more about their culture and beliefs about health may be a good strategy in improving approach towards their healthcare. For instance, understanding why the Indians may not want to practice resuscitation as a medical practice gives a better chance for practitioners to approach and educate the communities.
Primarily, research about various communities and their beliefs has been instrumental in multiple cases in ensuring cultural competence. Such studies are useful since they create a common point of knowledge on sensitive areas in the culture. These studies may help develop new approaches that are scientific but also that are acceptable to the community. The primary target is to improve the ability to provide health care. Hence, the same is achievable through the use of various methods.
Significantly, the use of research to analyze and validate the incorporation of herbs and other alternative care practices is a significant strategy. The communities have, for a long time, relied on the use of herbs. For instance, Native Americans believe that for every illness, there is a cure. Therefore, this fact indicates that incorporating traditional healers and users of herbal medicine in the improvement of medical procedures is essential. In this way, more culturally competent procedures and practices will be developed.
Additionally, training traditional doctors who use herbs would be a strategic approach towards improving healthcare and competence. In most cases, herbal medicines are trusted by the communities that scientific procedures. Adding to the knowledge they already have and which, according to them, is scientific will enhance competence.
In some cases, what the outside world views as magic, to them, is scientific, and what to the outside world is experimental, the Native Americans see it as magic. Therefore, the best approach would be to approach their practices as equally useful. Hence, the training should not be to eliminate the cultural aspect of their health care practices but to improve both sides mutually.
Significantly, the recruitment of local practitioners is an appropriate strategy. This fact is critical since the local professionals already understand the culture of the Native Americans. Additionally, there are instances in which language as part of the culture becomes a hindrance to healthcare provision. In such cases, the recruitment of local professionals would help counter the barrier. It is easier to use the local nurses, for instance, as opposed to using interpreters. Interpreters may become a hindrance to ethical professionalism in the provision of care, especially regarding confidentiality and privacy.
In conclusion, cultural competence is essential in healthcare. There is a need to ensure that the healthcare approach improves among native Indians. This competence is only achievable through the use of strategies that are informed by the culture of the communities. These strategies involve training and research.