Key Concepts (printable)
Normative Cultural Values Definition:
Normative cultural values are defined as attitudes and behaviors that are highly valued and/or widely held in a particular cultural group and that are reflected in interpersonal relationships.
Examples: Examine Normative cultural values in the following examples:
Example 1: A patient and family may choose not to return to a particular clinic if they do not feel that they have been treated in a respectful manner, since showing respeto or respect to others is a trait highly valued in Latino culture.
Example 2: An example of a normative cultural value seen with Latino populations is the concept of fatalismo. Fatalismo refers to the idea that one’s fate is predetermined, and can lead a patient to decline participation in treatment believing that whatever they do won’t really make a difference.
Application: A Puerto Rican parent may prioritize meeting the need of an extended family member over arriving on time to a clinic appointment. Understanding that this parent may view time obligations differently, and that the cultural value familismo requires timely response to family needs, can help to lessen judgmental reactions on the part of staff.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Definition: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) encompasses a diverse group of health care beliefs and practices that are considered to be outside the scope of conventional, mainstream Western medicine. Complementary medicine refers to practices that can be used in conjunction with mainstream approaches, while alternative medicine refers to practices that are utilized in the place of conventional medicine.
Examples: Examples of some Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) are:
Example 1: The mother of a Puerto Rican child with asthma may decide to give her child an herbal remedy in addition to the medications prescribed by her pediatrician. The herbal remedy would be considered a complementary medicine.
Example 2: Another parent might decide to stop all conventional medications, and to take their child to a faith healer for prayer and other types of ritual healing. This practice is an example of an alternative treatment practice.
Application: It can be important for a mainstream practitioner to be able to discuss CAM practices with patients and families both to show respect for practices consistent with a patient’s culture, to maintain open communication regarding a child’s health status, and to encourage non-harmful complementary alternatives when possible.
Folk Health and Illness Beliefs Definition: Folk health and illness beliefs include traditional ways of understanding health and illness that may be commonly held within a particular cultural group.
Examples: Examples of some Folk health and illness beliefs are:
Example 1: In Latino culture, a state of good health is often seen as a gift from God or as a reward for following culturally prescribed behavior standards. Illness may be seen as a punishment or as a state of imbalance between “hot” and “cold.”
Example 2: An example of a commonly described folk illness is mal ojo or evil eye, a condition marked by sudden onset of symptoms of fatigue, fever and headache. A child with mal ojo is one who has been looked on by another with excessive admiration, thus putting a spell on the child. A common practice in Puerto Rico is to place a bracelet or necklace on a newborn baby with an azabache, or a black stone often in the shape of a fist, to protect the child from harmful influences.
Application: Mainstream health careproviders can respond to patients and families who wish to utilize folk medicine in the most respectful and culturally-competent manner when they have some understanding of the folk health and illness beliefs common to a particular culture.