Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity Theory or the Culture Care Theory (CCT) is a concept that defines transcultural features of different natures. By applying this model, nurses can gain a better understanding of their patient’s perception of medical care, allowing a medical professional to be more sensible regarding patient needs. This paper will examine the Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity Theory and explain the specifics of its application in a practical nursing setting.
The specifics of nursing care imply that these health professionals can encounter patients from different cultures, who can have a different understanding of diseases and treatment process. According to McFarland and Wehbe-Alamah (2019), Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity Theory emphasizes that clinical professionals should be aware of the specifics, such as similarities and differences, existing among different cultures.
This theory was developed and introduced by Leininger in 1963 as a part of the author’s dissertation. Leininger examined the people living in Papua New Guinea, more specifically, the Gatsub people. The primary aim is the focus on the correlation between nursing care and the culture of a patient through a single transcultural model. The understanding of differences and similarities that exist among cultures helps understand how people see illnesses (Wehbe-Alamah, 2019). Additionally, by using this model, nurses become more sensitive to the cultural specifics of an individual, which helps them provide better care.
Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity Theory addresses the four meta paradigms of nursing care. Firstly, from the perspective of a person, this theory argues that health outcomes depend on an individual’s perception of medical care. This, in its turn, is influenced by the specifics of the individual’s culture. Secondly, the healthy paradigm in the CCT is affected by culture, meaning that tailoring the treatment, procedures, and recommendations based on the understanding of the culture improves the outcomes.
Next, the nursing paradigm is affected by Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity Theory because these medical professionals have to communicate directly with the patient. For instance, nurses administer medication and help patients take care of themselves while they are in the hospital. By applying the Leininger’s Culture Care, Diversity Theory, nurses can adjust their approaches to these daily aspects of work and ensure that patients feel comfortable and understand the specifics and purpose of care they are receiving. Finally, the environment element is addressed in CCU since culture is connected to where a person was born or his or her ethnicity.
This theory qualifies as a theoretical framework because it was developed by a professional nurse through research and examination of best practices. Fang and Stewart (2018) and Hascup (2018) state that it incorporates many elements, such as values, the social and political structures, beliefs, and others, which can influence the perception of health. These characteristics of the individuals worldwide have an impact on how one perceives holistic health and wellbeing.
The fact that original theory developed by Leininger developed over the years and was improved by other medical professionals, which transformed it into CTU and Sunrise Enabler theories, suggests that it is applicable in a professional setting (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2019). Nurses can use it in a professional setting to adjust their communication with patients and families and to suggest care practices that correspond with an individual’s worldviews. I can use this theory in my future career because it will help me understand how to address the needs of the diverse population. Therefore, I will understand which practices are best suited for a specific population to ensure the best health outcomes for my patients.
References
Fang, D. M., & Stewart, S. L. (2018). Social-cultural, traditional beliefs, and health system barriers of hepatitis B screening among Hmong Americans: A case study. Cancer, 124(7), 1576-1582. Web.
Hascup, V. A. (2018). Culture expressions, meanings, beliefs, and practices of Mexican American women during the postpartum period: A ethnonursing study. In M. M. McFarland & H. B. Wehbe-Alamah (Eds.), Leininger’s transcultural nursing: Concepts, theories, research, and practice (4th ed., pp. 398–420). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
McFarland, M. R. & Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2019). Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality: An overview with a historical retrospective and a view toward the future. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 30(6), 540-557. Web.
Wehbe-Alamah. H. B. (2019). Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory: Classic and new contributions. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 37(1), 1-10. Web.