In the modern age of globalization, medical workers are required to be culturally competent in order to provide high-quality service. A transcultural approach helps nurses adapt their clinical practice to the cultural differences of their clients. Due to the high presence of Filipinos among the immigrant population, this research is focused on the cultural heritage of the Philippines. The purpose of this work is to explain what makes the Filipino culture distinct and how it can be used in clinical settings.
This paper applies the descriptive method of analysis of Filipino heritage. It introduces the basic cultural characteristics of the Philippines, such as social and economic factors, education, languages, family values, culture in the workplace, and spirituality. Moreover, healthcare-related features, such as biological variations of Filipinos, common diseases, healthcare practices, high-risk behaviors, and nutrition, are also discussed in detail. Based on these characteristics, the research gives recommendations on how this knowledge can be applied in healthcare.
The findings demonstrate that the rich and versatile culture of the Philippines has unique traditions and beliefs, which should be considered in nursing practice. For example, it is necessary to be aware of the basic cultural values of Filipinos, such as strong family ties and a sense of cohesion. Moreover, the Philippines is a country with specific healthcare attitudes and approaches, such as the widespread use of folk medicine, which should also be taken into consideration.
To conclude, high-quality medical service is impossible without nurses’ cultural competence. Due to globalization and intercultural influence, Filipinos can experience challenges in using healthcare services. Awareness of the values and traditions of Filipinos can facilitate communication with this population group, while their healthcare practices and preferences can make nursing more customer-oriented. Since Filipinos constitute a part of the immigrant population, healthcare providers are recommended to have a general understanding of their culture and healthcare habits.
The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia and is a major cultural and tourist destination. Due to various social and economic reasons, migration among Filipinos is rather high. For example, according to the census of 2016, Filipinos constituted 4% of the US migrant population (Tuazon, 2021, p. 366). Therefore, for healthcare providers, it is important to be aware of the cultural peculiarities of this population group.
It is impossible to create the image of Filipino heritage without cultural attitudes and beliefs. For example, the indigenous tribal values of Filipinos include the sense of morality, justice, and collectivism. Filipinos maintain strong family ties and can be described as generous and loyal people (Tuazon, 2021). At the same time, at the age of globalization and increased immigration, Filipino cultural values can be a combination of indigenous and colonial traditions (Nadal, 2020). For example, Filipino immigrants in the US tend to follow the norms of individualistic American culture (Nadal, 2020). Therefore, healthcare workers need to understand whether their clients’ cultural background is closer to indigenous or is influenced by other cultures, which is common among Filipinos.
From the point of healthcare, the distinct feature of the Philippines is the significant role of folk medicine. According to Rondilla et al. (2021), traditional medicine in the Philippines includes prayers, massage, pulse checking, and using herbal or plant-based medications, among others. Moreover, Filipinos generally perceive themselves as healthy and, in the case of manageable illnesses, prefer self-medication (Jabar, 2019). To summarize, Filipino healthcare behavior includes special attention to health and the maintenance of folk traditions.
The overview of Filipino heritage proved that healthcare providers need to consider many cultural and health-related values, attitudes, and beliefs of this population group. Understanding the national identity and traditions of Filipinos can facilitate communication between the patient and the nurse. Moreover, certain practices may predict and explain Filipinos’ health-seeking behavior. Most importantly, healthcare providers need to be aware of family and community values and the importance of traditional medicine for Filipinos.
References
Jabar, M. A. (2019). Factors influencing health-seeking behavior among overseas Filipino workers. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 1–13.
Nadal, K.L. (2020). Filipino American psychology: A handbook of theory, research, and clinical practice (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Rondilla, N. A., Rocha, I. C. N., Roque, S. J., Lu, R. M., Apolinar, N. L. B., Solaiman-Balt, A. A., Abion, T. J., Banatin, P. B., & Javier, C. V. (2021). Folk medicine in the Philippines: A phenomenological study of health-seeking individuals. International Journal of Medical Students, 9(1), 25-32.
Tuazon, N. (2021). People of Filipino heritage. In Purnell, L.D. & E.A. Fenkl (Eds.), Textbook for transcultural health care: A population approach. Cultural competence concepts in nursing care (5th ed., pp. 365-394). Springer.