Closing The Gap On Cultural Competency

Closing The Gap on Cultural Competency

Closing The Gap on Cultural Competency

Introduction

This is the individual awareness of the various cultures that exist around their areas of existence which enables him to live and interact freely with people of these different cultures, and successfully coexist with them.

Cultural competency requires the individual to be accomplished in three main aspects, these aspects are essential in making sure that the individual acts both consciously and out of knowledge as opposed to ignorance.

These include awareness, favourable attitude towards the culture, knowledge on various cultures, and possession of cross cultural techniques where the individual’s in a position to assimilate the various cultures and understand them.

Barriers in culture competency

Most culture barriers are as a result of cultural differences within the many communities of the world, these varying values require the people subject to them to behave in a certain way this required cultural output is the major barrier of the core competencies where the individuals are required to exhibit whatever their respective culture requires of them.

The other thing is the geographical boundaries that exist as physical restrictions to the people of these countries though this is being brought down by the presence of information technology. These have enabled individuals to interact even when they are miles apart; this has weighed down the disadvantage brought about by the existent physical boundaries which were a main disadvantage in the past. (DeLisser 2009).

Closing The Gap on Cultural Competency

Language is the other barrier on achieving cultural competency, though most people have taken the stand that the understanding of the culture of a particular group you have to be conversant with the communication mode, which is the language this has built a monumental problem with most people as it is not practically possible to understand the languages of the entire nation. But it is not necessarily true that knowledge of a particular language is the starting point of understanding a particular culture in fact it is easier to observe and work with documented summary of the culture as opposed to understanding the entire culture.

Adaptation in school Curriculum

The concept of cultural competency should be integrated in the school curricula this is in view of the fact that individuals are becoming closer. Closer in the fact that presence of information technology is now a big composite of our live s and it is just fair that the kids and students are taught at an early age how to deal with this multi cultural world. Furthermore equipping the kid with information on cultural competencies helps him/ her associate better with others from round the world not to mention ease to belong.

Importance to the health care personnel

Health care personnel are expected to handle people from different cultural groups, especially when one works in metropolitan areas. For these people it is always easier to work with these individuals if one is fully aware of their culture their restrictions and requirements so as to make sure that these individuals are not at cross roads with the believes of these individuals.

The other importance for these individuals to be well versed with the cultural differences is that they are bound to participate in forums, research projects and other technical meetings. These

Closing The Gap on Cultural Competency

meetings are obviously assembly of individuals from multiple cultures and being culturally competent just eases dealing with these individuals and thus proper and smooth skill exchange and understanding. (DeLisser 2009).

References

DeLisser, H (2009). Achieving Cultural Competency: A Case- based approach to Training health professionals 1st edition. Willey- Blackwell