Compare and Contrast Culture, Ethnicity, and Acculturation

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Multicultural Communication and its Origins
Multicultural communication can be defined as verbal and/or written interaction among people from different cultural backgrounds to convey a message. According to Riley (2020), in multicultural communication, people understand that they are different but still figure out a way to communicate with each other effectively to achieve the desired outcomes. Over the years, society has become more and more diverse, giving rise to multicultural communication. Riley (2020) indicates that multicultural communication originates from the immigration of people of varying cultures from one region to another. People develop multicultural communication to enhance their interaction. Globalization and technology have also contributed to multicultural communication as more people from different parts of the world can interact and share ideas.
Compare and Contrast Culture, Ethnicity, and Acculturation
Culture refers to the beliefs, values, and customs shared among a group of people (Riley, 2020). These shared characteristics are passed down from generation to generation. Ethnicity refers to the identification of a social group that shares the same social identity and origins in terms of nationality, language, culture, and/or religion (Riley, 2020). These characteristics become part of one’s identity by birth. As such, ethnicity cannot be acquired. Unlike ethnicity, culture can be acquired/adopted. It can also be left behind as people learn about other values and belief systems through interaction. On the other hand, acculturation refers to the adoption of a dominant or new culture as an individual becomes immersed in the new culture (Riley, 2020). It is influenced by the interaction between people from two different cultures.
Effects of Culture and Religion on Healthcare
Culture and religion influence how healthcare professionals deliver healthcare. According to Riley (2020), culture and religion not only influence the perception of patients about healthcare but also that of healthcare professionals. These perceptions affect how healthcare professionals deliver healthcare to patients from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. They can lead to stereotyping and mishandling of patients, thereby limiting the delivery of adequate, culturally-sensitive care. Also, during cross-cultural communication, issues such as miscommunication can arise, which can increase healthcare disparities among people of different backgrounds.
Family Culture and its Effect on Patient Education
Family culture influences individual patients’ attitudes, perceptions, and ideas and should be considered when providing patient education. According to Aitken et al. (2019), it is important to incorporate the family culture when providing care and intervention to patients because family culture allows healthcare professionals to see the patient beyond their disease. Family culture influences how patients interpret their illness, healthcare, and health promotion behaviors. This should be considered when providing patient education resources.
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