Introduction
It is necessary to note that that the role of cultural competence has been increasing over the years. The issue is that many health care professionals do not view some of the points as significant and frequently disregard them. However, the health and well-being of an individual could be affected if the information and opinions voiced by the patient are overlooked. The process of treatment may also have to be modified depending on the situation.
One of the studies has shown that clients are more likely to follow the recommendations if they think that a health professional is knowledgeable about their traditions (Ohana & Mash, 2015). Furthermore, it is reasonable to use various checklists to analyze the current level of competence.
Discussion
It is important to say that I am quite pleased with my performance on this self-assessment, and I think that the fact that I have communicated with individuals of various cultures has helped me tremendously. One of the core aspects that should be highlighted is that that I agreed most of the time because I have focused on cultural competence for many years. It is crucial that GLBTQ people are mentioned in this case, and I recognize that they should not be discriminated against (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2010). The dissimilarity between family roles in various cultures also should be respected.
Moreover, it is imperative to understand which topics or sentences should be avoided during the process of communication. Every person needs an individual approach, and their sexuality and beliefs should be respected. On the other hand, several points should be improved because my level of understanding of these aspects is not sufficient at the moment. I was not aware that parenting in different cultures could affect the way a child’s future is perceived. Moreover, it is paramount to educate me on this subject matter because it may affect communication and my ability to comprehend some of the comments made by patients.
Another point that should be mentioned is that I currently do not understand how the perception of time could be affected by traditions or culture. I think that this aspect is fascinating, and it would be reasonable to review peer-reviewed articles on this topic to analyze why it is so important and how it may affect practice. Alternative medicine also needs to be discussed. I am aware that it is a part of many traditions, but it becomes problematic if the process of treatment is complicated and some of the approaches are bad for health. I think that the checklist could have been a little more developed, and it would be beneficial to include a particular scale. However, it is quite helpful for an individual to see his or her performance, and it is possible to identify strong points and weaknesses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible to state that my current level of cultural competence is appropriate, but it is quite evident that several aspects need to be improved. It would be appropriate to study the literature on cultural differences to get a better overall understanding of possible dissimilarities because a patient’s experience may be affected. It may also be necessary to participate in pieces of training because the number of positive health-related outcomes may increase if a health care provider is well-informed and knows how to treat minorities (Berger & Peerson, 2015). Overall, it is imperative to focus on all the points listed in this cultural competence checklist to develop as a professional and an individual.
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2010). Cultural Competence Checklist: Personal reflection. Web.
Berger, G., & Peerson, A. (2015). Cultural competence lessons learned: the continuum model. Medical Education, 49(5), 515-516.
Ohana, S., & Mash, R. (2015). Physician and patient perceptions of cultural competency and medical compliance. Health Education Research, 30(6), 923-934.