Cultural Issues in Cancer Care
CULTURAL COMPETENCE
• Awareness of one’s own background and its influence on patient care
• Knowledge of how culture affects health care practices
• Accepting and respecting cultural difference and their impact on health care delivery.
• Awareness that health care providers and client beliefs may vary and may affect care
• Avoidance of judgmental acts and beliefs
• Openness to cultural encounters
• Adaptation of care to meet cultural needs
• Patient/caregiver education tools (Purnell & Paulanka, 2003)
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE CULTURAL COMPETENCE
ASSESSMENT TOOLS
The evaluation of cultural beliefs and practices must be part of the continuing clinical assessment as the client receives treatment; during treatment decisions and outcomes the impact of culture will have an impact on the decisions and care delivery practices.
