Cultural Competence and Introductory Concepts

The class is the first module in the Cross Cultural Health Care Program sponsored by the Hispanic Educational Telecommunication System.

This module will discuss key concepts that assist healthcare providers to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes that reflect cultural awareness, sensitivity and competence. The module provides a model of cultural competence as a perspective for understanding how cultural beliefs and practices affect behaviors of patients and families, with an emphasis on Hispanic culture.

Objectives
One of the challenges facing the healthcare system today is the increasing diversity of the patient and staff populations. This module examines basic anthropological and transcultural care concepts that will enable the student to understand this diversity. Students will analyze reasons for cross-cultural misunderstandings, and explore ways to deliver culturally competent care in a diverse culture.
1. Identify key concepts that provide an understanding of culture in patient care situations, particularly those derived from Hispanic culture.
2. Describe the worldview of the learners related to their culture and how this affects their own health behaviors and those of others.
3. Compare and contrast definitions of cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and cultural competence.

Who will benefit?
RNs and other allied health personnel in practice; and lower and upper division students who want to learn more about cultural competence and health.

Schedule
Classes will be conducted online, asynchronously, using the Blackboard system, over 5 weeks, starting in May 2005. Students may participate in online group activities or pursue learning activities individually.

Week 1 – Major Cultural Concepts
Week 2 – Cultural Interactions
Week 3 Cultural Perspectives on Health, Disease and Illness
Week 4 – Communication, Personal Space and Time Orientation
Week 5 – Transcultural Care

BSX 901.01 Cultural Competence and Introductory Concepts
Dates: May 16th – June 17th, 2005
Credit: 1.5 CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CRN: 27676

Cost
$150 for BSX 901

Information
For further information, contact Babette Wald at 310-243-3730 or bwald@csudh.edu.

Registration
Students can call (310) 243-3741 or 877-GO-HILLS (using VISA, Mastercard & Discover).

Bibliography
D’Avanzo, C. E. & Geissler, E. M. (2003). Pocket guide to cultural health assessment (3rd Ed.). St Louis, MO: Mosby.
Galanti, G. (2004). Caring for patients from different cultures: (3rd Ed.). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Health Resources and Services Administration. (2001). Cultural competence works: Using cultural competence to improve the quality of care for diverse populations and add value to managed care arrangements. Merrifield, VA: HRSA Information Center.
Mutha, S., Allen, C., & Welch, M. (2002). Toward culturally competent care: A toolbox for teaching communication strategies. San Francisco, CA: Regents of the University of California.

Further information about the Cross Cultural Health Care initiative is available by clicking on the image below.