Cultural Diversity
Cultural and religious beliefs toward medical care can vary greatly from the traditional medical practices that are used predominantly in the United States. These beliefs can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to accept and benefit from medical treatment.
This assignment is to research the medical beliefs and practices of another culture. In class you will choose the culture you want to research. Each student can choose a culture that they would like to research. Students may choose a culture (other than the US) or a religion that has beliefs that may impact medical care (i.e. Scientology). Include the following information using the below headings:
• Cultures; general Information, medical beliefs of and attitudes regarding mental health:
o General information about the culture, attitudes towards health and illness with focus on mental health – notice that attitudes toward mental illness are worth 20% of the grade of this paper – be sure that it is covered thoroughly
• Role of the family
o How do the families of people in the selected culture treat someone who is ill? For example they may make certain foods, use specific ointments, or keep someone isolated.
• Medical practices and remedies
o For example in the US a typical medical practice is to prescribe medication. A common remedy for a sore throat is tea with honey.
• Role of the health care practitioner
o For example in the US we have many health care practitioners including: physician, nurse, psychologist, therapist (OT, PT, and SLP), and chiropractor – each one of these practitioners has a different role. In other cultures there may be some type of “healer” or a person who uses magic to cure illness.
• Role of the OT Practitioner when working with a client from the culture
o How should an OT practitioner in this country (the USA) approach a patient of the specified culture? What would they need to take into consideration and do differently in practice based on the culture? This does not mean how OT would be practiced in that culture.
Prepare a 4 page, double-spaced, 12 font size, with a minimum of 2 references (must use APA format and site references within the text). It is acceptable to have an interview with a person from the culture as one of your references.
Please review the grading criteria closely. Consider how much each section is worth and plan to be thorough in each area. The information included must be specific to the culture you are researching. For example, consider the topic of the role of the OT practitioner – there are some things that should always be done regardless of culture, such as finding out about the culture, being sensitive to cultural preferences, ensuring the client can understand given directions, etc. Since this information is so general it does not provide any insight as to what the OT practitioner should do with someone from the specific culture being discussed – therefore, although this information is correct, it would not count as points in this area.
Do your own work. Papers will be submitted via turn-it-in.com. Reference any quotes. It is not acceptable to have >25% of your paper as direct quotes, even if they are referenced correctly. Any directly copied information that is not properly referenced will be considered plagiarism and the grade will be “O”.
