Western and Non-Western Healthcare, Coursework Example

Introduction

Healthcare practices are highly diverse throughout the world and represent different approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and the prevention of disease in patients. Many populations suffer from different conditions and ailments that are not common in other areas; therefore, each area utilizes different approaches to healthcare practice to treat the conditions that are common to these locations. The diversity of populations throughout the world requires healthcare workers to be cognizant of different customs and approaches to care and treatment that influence patients; therefore, these must reflect the value of addressing concerns when healthcare traditions in one country do not meet the requirements of patients from other countries. This is an important reminder for healthcare workers to receive diversity education and training in an effort to accommodate patients from diverse population groups in an effective manner. This is an important reminder of the challenges related to diversity that must be addressed and that may have a direct impact on healthcare outcomes for some patients.

Body

Healthcare practice objectives in Western regions may have different priorities from non-Western areas and vice versa. This requires an examination of the different priorities that are evident with these regions and how they have an impact on how patients are treated and managed within different communities. It is important to identify a global approach to healthcare that will be effective in accommodating patients and in supporting their needs across many diverse cultures from both Western and Non-Western areas (Rider et.al, 2014). Most importantly, nurses play a significant role in shaping the healthcare process and in supporting the dimensions of care and treatment that patients require in order to accomplish healthcare needs across the spectrum that will have a lasting impact on patients (Rider et.al, 2014).

Western healthcare values and principles are likely to be different in many ways from Non-Western values; however, both sides aim to maximize the health and wellbeing of their patients and to be effective in meeting healthcare needs in the desired manner; therefore, they must be able to demonstrate a high level understanding of the different ideas that influence how healthcare is managed in one facility versus another. Many populations rely upon less traditional and pharmacological methods to treat health conditions, while others rely on different types of treatments to promote survival. Therefore, these differences must be addressed in the context of their ability to work well for patients within a given diverse culture because nurses must be flexible to cultural needs and expectations and not force specific values if they are not acceptable. This is an important reminder of the development of new ideas and strategies to ensure that all patient needs are met effectively and are not ignored, while also respecting the work that is being performed within the healthcare setting (Flaskerud, 2014).

Healthcare diversity must be addressed in the context of each individual patient, while also recognizing the importance of this practice as part of a larger framework that supports the acceptance of diversity as a viable strategy for treating patients across different population groups (Jhutti-Johal, 2013). It is important for organizations to be proactive in addressing diversity within their patient populations so that they are able to contribute to the development of new ideas and strategies in communicating with patients and in recognizing personal values that may be part of healthcare practices, such as alternative therapies and prayer (Jhutti-Johal, 2013). These factors must be considered and supported by the nursing profession and how this process supports the growth of the practice setting in recognizing diversity in developing treatment methods for patients.

The concept of cultural competence is critical to the success of an organization and its employees in treating patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. It is important to identify the specific factors that contribute to achieving high quality patient care and in supporting the needs of different populations effectively. Therefore, diversity education and training may provide a high level of support and encouragement in treating patients and in advancing outcomes so that all patients across Western and Non-Western societies achieve optimal health and wellbeing (Horwitz, Sonilal, & Horwitz, 2011). These practices must encourage patients to address their needs with healthcare providers and to communicate their customs effectively to achieve the most feasible approach to treat a given healthcare issue that requires further attention (Horwitz et.al, 2011).

Conclusion

Western and Non-Western approaches to healthcare practice require a high level understanding of the different elements that contribute to patient care and that support the development of new strategies for improvement and the creation of new ideas to facilitate positive outcomes for patients. Communication with patients is critical to this process so that nurses are able to understand what patients require and how they will honor their cultural needs and customs in this manner. Western culture is largely focused on larger organizations and comprehensive healthcare systems, while non-Western cultures may emphasize non-traditional approaches such as alternative medicine and rituals to treat patients. Both sides are able to learn from the other when working with diverse patients because there are critical needs that must be addressed that provide a basis for examining new approaches to treating patients that will have a positive and lasting impact on health outcomes, regardless of culture and other beliefs and customs.

References

Flaskerud, J. H. (2014). Culture, Community, and Diversity. Issues in mental health nursing, 35(4), 317-320.

Horwitz, I., Sonilal, M., & Horwitz, S. (2011). Improving health care quality through culturally competent physicians: leadership and organizational diversity training. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 3, 29-40.

Jhutti-Johal, J. (2013). Understanding and Coping with Diversity in Healthcare. Health Care Analysis, 21(3), 259-270.

Rider, E. A., Kurtz, S., Slade, D., Longmaid, H. E., Ho, M. J., Pun, J. K. H., … & Branch, W. T. (2014). The International Charter for Human Values in Healthcare: An interprofessional global collaboration to enhance values and communication in healthcare. Patient education and counseling, 96(3), 273-280.