cultural heritage can be defined as a way of living one’s life including the customs, practices, values, beliefs, traditions and lifestyles that a person or group of people practice (Baker, 2007).
Cultural heritage are those things that are passed down from generation to generation. Each generation practices the same or very similar practices as the generation before. This practice of passing down values, beliefs and traditions is the foundation of practicing cultural heritage (Baker, 2007).
This paper will discuss the differences and similarities of three different cultures identifying common health traditions based on the use of a cultural heritage assessment tool. This tool asked a series of twenty nine questions about culture and respondents answered the questions accordingly. The greater the number of positive responses, the greater the individuals identification with a traditional heritage (Spector, 2000).
The three cultures which participated in the cultural heritage assessment tool were American, Hispanic, and Polish.
The three areas that were addressed were health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration within these three cultures. The similar and different health traditions were identified in all three cultures. Health Restoration Health restoration within the three cultures who participated in the cultural assessment tool was very different in their approach. The American’s used western type of medicine to help restore their health. The other two used a variety of methods to restore health.
The Essay on Cultural Practices that Affect Health
The Community Health Nurse (CHN), an individual who works outside of the hospital setting and typically with a specific community to provide basic health care systems (All Nursing Schools, 2009) can be perceived as the bridge to address the gap between western medicine and cultural traditions. In cases when cultural practices cause physical harm and health risks, the CHN can be the tool to provide ...
The visit to the family doctor or the specialist doctor was the method of choice and the use of pharmaceuticals to treat anything from infections to chronic disease states was very common practice with the American culture. The American culture seemed to be more apt to use all kinds of medical remedies available from herbs and over the counter medications to high priced prescription drugs they got from the pharmacy. There was very little cultural heritage used in the American approach to health restoration.
When looking at the results from the cultural heritage tool questioner, the American family had a total of 46. Again the greater the number, the greater the person identified with cultural heritage. The Hispanic and Polish cultures used many different medical products; however, both of these groups used more home remedies which were based on cultural heritage and traditions than the American culture. The Polish group was more likely to use the western medical approach and relied more on using western medicine, similar to the American approach.
They were different from the American group. The Polish used many tonics and homemade potions to help with health problems like diarrhea, sour stomach and skin rashes. The Polish culture used vodka as a base in many of their homemade medicines and home remedies. Family traditions and home remedies to restore health were used quite often and there were many times a religious ceremony attached to the health restoration procedure. They often times used raw eggs in many of their drinks as a source of protein.
The Essay on American Indian Culture And Its Effects On Nursing
... health complications. References Barrett, C. A. (2009). American Indian culture. Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press. Brandon, W., & Josephy, A. M. (2008). The American heritage ... pipe created from a unique cultural trait of the American Indians life. The American Indians used various symbols that ... animals that represented a deceased member of the family who was highly cherished. They believed in ...
When looking at the results from the cultural heritage tool questioner, the Polish family had a total of 60. They identified very heavily towards their cultural heritage for health restoration. The Hispanic culture used the least western medicine. They used a lot of herbal teas, plants and food sources as medicine. Natural products such as vegetables and plants and other non pharmacological products were used frequently. In the Latino society, people turn to the family first for medical help.
The use of home remedies and cultural traditions past down from generation to generation is prevalent. Hispanics go to the doctor in many cases only as a last resort. The Hispanic Family scored a 76 on the cultural assessment questioner. This meant that their health restorations and traditions were mainly based on cultural heritages and cultural traditions. Cultural heritage is an integral part of Hispanic life and also the type of medicine used. The Hispanic culture and health restoration is centered on family along with religious traditions over generations.
