Heritage Assessment
Heritage Assessment
Angel S. Winnie
Grand Canyon University: NRS429V
May 17, 2013
Heritage Assessment The heritage assessment tool is a checklist used by professionals to gain knowledge of patient’s culture and beliefs prior to initiating care. (Spector, 2000). There are many different cultures in this country, brining different beliefs in health, illness, recovery, death, and life. The heritage assessment tool is an important measure towards better understanding of cultural competency, or recognition of diversity. A person’s culture, beliefs, heritage, and language have a substantial impact both as a patient and a health care provider within the health care system. (Spector, 2009).
The healthy people 2010 goal “eliminating all health disparities” implies the need for all healthcare providers to be client centered and culturally competent. Increasing diversity of the United States population is a reality in the 21st century. “The Census 2000 indicates that one out of four persons in the US are non-Whites with Hispanic Americans constituting the largest and fastest growing minority group.” (Sankaran, 2007)
The heritage assessment tool provides insight into the culture of the individual client. The awareness of language and religion promote continuity in healthcare by promoting education to be geared toward the client’s beliefs and value system. Knowing how deeply involved a client is in the traditional heritage is vital to being able to positively impact their health care requirements.
Comparison of health traditions
Three different ethnic groups were interviewed, a white, non-Hispanic, a Puerto-Rican, and Filipino family. Utilizing the heritage assessment tool for comparison in health traditions to discuss health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration.
Health maintenance
Puerto Rican culture has more concern with becoming ill rather that of dying. This culture is known for not seeking medical care until an individual is so ill it
Angel S. Winnie
Grand Canyon University: NRS429V
May 17, 2013
Heritage Assessment The heritage assessment tool is a checklist used by professionals to gain knowledge of patient’s culture and beliefs prior to initiating care. (Spector, 2000). There are many different cultures in this country, brining different beliefs in health, illness, recovery, death, and life. The heritage assessment tool is an important measure towards better understanding of cultural competency, or recognition of diversity. A person’s culture, beliefs, heritage, and language have a substantial impact both as a patient and a health care provider within the health care system. (Spector, 2009).
The healthy people 2010 goal “eliminating all health disparities” implies the need for all healthcare providers to be client centered and culturally competent. Increasing diversity of the United States population is a reality in the 21st century. “The Census 2000 indicates that one out of four persons in the US are non-Whites with Hispanic Americans constituting the largest and fastest growing minority group.” (Sankaran, 2007)
The heritage assessment tool provides insight into the culture of the individual client. The awareness of language and religion promote continuity in healthcare by promoting education to be geared toward the client’s beliefs and value system. Knowing how deeply involved a client is in the traditional heritage is vital to being able to positively impact their health care requirements.
Comparison of health traditions
Three different ethnic groups were interviewed, a white, non-Hispanic, a Puerto-Rican, and Filipino family. Utilizing the heritage assessment tool for comparison in health traditions to discuss health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration.
Health maintenance
Puerto Rican culture has more concern with becoming ill rather that of dying. This culture is known for not seeking medical care until an individual is so ill it
References: Fridinger, F. (n.d.). Cultural insights: communicating with Hispanics/Latinos. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/Audience/AudienceInsight_CulturalInsights.pdf Ordonez, R. V., & Gandeza, N. (2004). Integrating traditional beliefs and modern medicine: Filipino nurses ' health beliefs, behaviors, and practices. Home Health Care Management & Practice. 17(1), 22-27. doi: 10.1177/1084822304268152 Sankaran, G. (2007, Nov. 07). Heritage assessment: An important step towards building cultural competency. Retrieved from https://apha.confex.com/apha/135am/techprogram/paper_161689.htm Spector, R. E. (2000). Cultural Care: Guide to heritage assessment and health traditions (5th ed.). Pearson Education/PH College Spector, R.E., (2009). Cultural diversity in health and illness, (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, retrieved from http://www.ojccnh.org/project/spector.shtml