NUR 502 Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Roles and Practice

Name:
Professional Communication: Cultural Sensitivity
Grand Canyon University
NUR 502 – Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Roles and Practice
Date
Introduction
Mexican Americans are a growing minority in the U.S, particularly in California and the southern states bordering Mexico. The Mexican-American population is underserved where health beliefs, communication barriers, and social organizations are some of the factors affecting health care provision. Culture, attitudes and beliefs influence medical decisions depending on whether the interventions are culturally competent. Integrating culturally competent models in health care improves patient outcomes where the unique healthcare needs and perceptions are considered (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). Health practitioners ought to translate knowledge into practice while increasing their awareness and providing culturally competent care. Practitioners should also treat with respect the Mexican Americans living with diabetes and support open communication to improve their cultural awareness and health outcomes.
Summary of the article’s key points
Brown & Hanis (2014) looked at the effectiveness of culturally-tailored diabetes self-management education (DSME) interventions targeting Mexican Americans living with type II diabetes. The researchers identified Mexican Americans living in Starr County, Texas near the border with Mexico and one of the poorest counties in the U.S. Identifying barriers to diabetes self-management provides insights on how best to improve patient adherence and outcome. Lack of diabetes knowledge among diabetes patients and cultural competence among practitioners are two factors that influence interventions.
The lack of spoken, reading and written English language skills was a barrier to effective intervention, and the patients relied on social support and advice among community members. While genetics play a role in influencing the susceptibility to diabetes, lifestyles choices, including the lack of physical activities and eating unhealthy diets also increase the risk of diabetes developing. The home-based diabetes self- management interventions are potentially beneficial because they address cultural concerns and here is an emphasis on patient-centered care. The perspectives of the community members in Starr County were considered in designing culturally relevant intervention programs.
In cultural practices, the role of the family in making medical decisions plays a prominent role among people of Mexican descent. Besides health care workers and dieticians, promoter as who receive specialized training and promote basic health education without being health practitioners were involved in the interventions. Among Hispanic communities, the promoter as is the lay health workers that link the community members with health education. However, for those who wanted knowledgeable health practitioners few wanted the promoter as to be the focal point of the interventions, but family participation also motivated the patients opt for the healthiest lifestyle choices (Brown & Hanis, 2014). Community health workers like the promoter as also promote health and improve access to healthcare and lifestyle changes.
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