The concept of culture encompasses many aspects of human life. It includes the social behaviors, institutions, and norms found in human societies as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, and capabilities of individuals within these groups. The term can also be used to describe the cultural expressions that emerge from such groups, including music, dance, art, and other forms of artistic creativity.
A central theme of culture is the notion of evolution, which suggests that different cultures develop in response to environmental and social factors. For example, some cultures develop a more efficient means of food production by developing agriculture. Others develop better means of surviving harsh environmental conditions by embracing technology, such as weapons, clothing, and shelter. Ultimately, the success of a culture depends upon its effectiveness in meeting the needs and fulfilling the desires of its people.
The study of culture has long been viewed as a broad, inter-disciplinary field of inquiry that combines elements from anthropology, history, philosophy, and sociology. Generally, an effort to understand culture is facilitated by breaking it down into distinguishable, relatively self-contained units known as traits. A trait may be an object (a knife), a behavior, or even a belief, such as a belief in spirits. Each trait is related to other traits and, when linked, forms a cluster called a culture complex.
Cultural expressions are creative works that communicate a specific group’s ideas and values. They often convey a sense of identity and may be understood across borders and languages. The creation of art is one of the most important forms of cultural expression, and it can take many different forms, from paintings to sculptures to dance performances. Music is another form of cultural expression that can be highly effective in expressing emotions and ideas. It can range from classical music to hip hop and can have a profound impact on people.
As a result of the vast differences in cultural expressions and traditions, it can be challenging for healthcare providers to provide quality care to patients from other cultures. In order to address this challenge, some healthcare providers are offering cultural competence training to help nurses navigate cultural and linguistic barriers in the hospital setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these training programs in improving the health outcomes of multicultural patients. The authors surveyed registered and licensed practical nurses from five hospital wards who provided care to patients with diverse backgrounds. The results showed that the majority of participants did not receive any cultural competence training. They reported encountering patients from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. This suggests that healthcare professionals are in need of more targeted efforts to increase the awareness and knowledge about cultural competence. Moreover, they indicated that they need additional training on the use of culturally appropriate communication tools in the hospital setting.