A large number of different cultures in Aotearoa make up the diverse society that we all enjoy. Culture includes not only the many ethnic groups within our population, but also other groupings that patients may identify with such as religious groups, disability culture, and gay culture.
Cross cultural interactions in the health sector are therefore common and all of us need to be competent in dealing with people whose cultures differ from our own.
It is interesting to take a look at how culture contributes to certain health behaviours, as well as understand how our own cultural values influence the interactions we have.
To be able to understand and work with people from all cultures, it is important to first recognize how our own culture influences us. This provides us with a reference point, a basis from which to be able to recognise and appreciate differences between our own and other cultures.
When I think about culture I think about beliefs, and values, and behaviours, and customs and so on.
It is also true that these preferences are not only affected by our culture but also by our experiences, education, economic pressures, peer behaviour and many other things, and they can change over time. This is why it is so important to ask people about their preferences.
Hi,
This programmed is really interesting. It help me widened my understanding with regards to culture, the important of communication and health literacy.
Thank you for making this online course.
This Programme has given me a must stronger and widened my understanding
Great starting point for Cultural Competency within the Health Sector. Found it interesting and deepened my understanding of the need to be more cultural aware, not only toward Maori but all cultures within our community.
Found this program very interesting and informative.
This program is very interesting and widened my understanding about cultural competency in Health sector.
Interesting and informative
I now have a wider view of Maori health issues
Thank you for this course. Great to have this knowledge. Kia ora
interesting
It opens my mind to how to think about myself and others. Very interesting course
Its easy to think of cultural competencies pertaining only to ethnic groups, so it was enlightening to considering other people groups within NZ as well and how my own cultural values affect my own behavior and communications with others.