“Variant characteristics of culture” include nationality, race, age, color, religious affiliation, educational status, socioeconomic status, occupation, military experience, political beliefs, urban versus rural residence, enclave identity, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender issues, physical characteristics, immigration status, and length of time away from the country of origin.

HLt324| HLt324

1. DQ 1

The following characteristics can be changed: education, profession, military experience and political beliefs. Also, they include marital status, parent status, time since leaving the country of origin. Nationality, race and color are characteristics that can never change.

These characteristics, whether changing or stable, can greatly influence one’s worldview. For example, a person’s nationality can shape their cultural background and traditions, while their age can determine their beliefs and values. Additionally, a person’s socioeconomic status can impact their opportunities and experiences, while their sexual orientation may affect their interpersonal relationships and interactions.

2. DQ2:

Through education, experience, and training, one can develop their cultural competence. Take courses about culture, read articles and books on different cultures and have conversations with others from diverse backgrounds to become more culturally aware.

An effective approach to using The Purnell Model when working with subcultures is to identify the individual’s values, beliefs, and attitudes and understand how they shape their cultural identity. This helps in developing an understanding of the individual’s worldview and the cultural factors that influence their health and wellness.

3. DQ3:

In my role as a language teacher, I have no personal experience, but I know from readings that nonverbal communication is one aspect of cultural difference that’s difficult to grasp. In some cultures direct eye contact can be a sign that you are respectful, but in other cultures it’s rude.

You can prepare yourself to communicate with people from this culture by learning about the nonverbal cues. They can also observe the individual’s nonverbal cues and ask questions to clarify their understanding.

4. DQ4:

The inability to communicate in the patient’s language can result in miscommunication and misinterpretation of medical information, leading to ineffective treatment and poor health outcomes. It is therefore crucial to find a professional translator in order to ensure high-quality communication.

Finding a translation service is the provider’s responsibility. The health provider has a professional responsibility to offer accessible and effective healthcare to all their patients regardless of the language barrier. To ensure communication, the health care provider may use a language-line service or hire a medical translator.