Abstract
Men’s health, as the title indicates, is primarily based on a gender differentiation paradigm. However, the delivery of patient-centered health care requires that health care providers deliver care centered on the patient’s unique clinical and personal situation that includes their cultural needs. This necessitates the integration of not only a gender differentiation paradigm but also a cultural paradigm in the provision of men’s health. This cultural paradigm is termed cultural competency. Cultural competency is not only a buzzword but also a clinical expectation in today’s health care system. The majority of health care professionals have integrated cultural competency as an essential professional competency of the respective discipline. Generally, cultural competency consists of cultural knowledge, cultural awareness, and cultural sensitivity. Cultural knowledge consists of an understanding of cultural characteristics, history, values, belief systems, and behaviors. Cultural awareness extends beyond knowledge to the development of internal attitudes and values regarding a culture. Cultural sensitivity consists of knowing cultural differences among different populations without assigning values to these cultural differences. Therefore, in summary, cultural sensitivity consist of being knowledgeable, aware, and sensitive to cultural differences and similarities that exist among different population groups.
Over the past few years, as a health care professional and in my leisure activities, I had the opportunity to experience the integration of the gender and cultural paradigm through my travels of Central America. My travels and experiences have primarily existed with the Mayan population in Central America. During my integration of both a gender and cultural paradigm, I propose the following lessons learned to facilitate the further development of men’s health standards and practices:
Health care systems are representative of and structured in accordance with the principles, philosophy, and rules governing the population’s societal norms.
Medicine and health care services are rooted in culture, worldview/paradigm, and the population’s spiritual beliefs.
Barriers to care can include but are not limited to cultural awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity; limited translation ability; limited patient literacy in native language; and limited access to health care services and medications.
An understanding of the belief system regarding medicine, health care, meaning of health, and connections between mind, body, and spirit is necessary.
Knowledge regarding language and distinctive inter- and intracultural variation promotes an understanding of patient belief systems and behavior.
There should be an understanding of the cultural concept of disease and health.
Knowledge regarding culturally identified health care providers or healers and the healing remedies facilitate the providers’ understanding of nonpharmacologic remedies that are culturally based.
Interpreters promote communication. In some cultures, only family member may be permitted as interpreters primarily because of trust issues or availability of interpreters; however, there may be some limitations with family members serving in the capacity of interpreter.
Body charts are excellent clinical tools to use with the facilitation of teaching regarding illness and body systems and to assist the patient in identifying the location of pain or other health concerns.
Natural remedies charts assist with patient communication regarding nonpharmacologic and herbal remedies they have been taking for their health condition.
Health assessment signs and symptoms checklist and tools may need to be altered since each culture has a different understanding of health, well-being, illness, and what consists of illness signs and symptoms.