PCP Reflection 2

PCP REFLECTION 2
What is the reflective focus?

The focus of this reflection is placed on the behavioural expectations of
a healthcare professional in a multi-cultural Australia.
What is the real problem? Do I have the skills/knowledge to
address the central concern?
During my time in the undergraduate degree, it has become blatantly
apparent that most of us are oblivious to the medical expectations, different
cultures hope to experience from their medical practitioner.
From the start of the degree, we were told we would have to ask our
patients to remove parts of their attire to perform visual observations as part
of the chiropractic physical assessment. At the time, I thought nothing more
than requesting precisely that, because that was what was needed to be able
to complete the task. As we have progressed through the degree, I have gained
an appreciation that this practice may require a sensitive approach in order to
respect certain cultural beliefs and that I, as a future clinician, needs to
become adaptable to using different conservative approaches in order to
achieve this goal.
Where do I find the information and skills I need? Can I trust the
new information source?
I believe CQ University has done their part in exposing this topic, to
myself and my fellow students, and has provided us with the necessary tools to
help to begin to understand the complexity cultural aspects can present in the
workplace. However, although I have gained an understanding of the theory as
to why we need to create a culturally diverse modality of healthcare,
successfully implementing the principals that address these cultural
considerations will take further work and research on my behalf. Since I am by
PCP REFLECTION 2
no means an expert, referring to the chiropractic code of conduct for

enlightenment will be an excellent place to further my knowledge on this
sensitive topic. Hopefully, with further research and a competent cultural
understanding, I will have a better awareness of how to interact with my
fellow students from different cultures and set myself up for an excellent
health practitioner-patient working relationship in the future.
Do I need a team approach to this? Who do I recruit into my
management team?
Healthcare professionals worldwide are required to deliver care for an
increasing number of culturally and linguistically diverse patients. Therefore by
adopting the approach that emphasises the importance of providing equal
treatment, whilst being respectful and non-judgmental of others, especially
when the customs of certain cultures differ from one’s own ideology is
essential (Kaihlanen, Hietapakka & Heponiemi, 2019). Incorporating this
methodical approach will help to ease cross-cultural encounters, thereby
creating a better, more culturally diverse healthcare setting.
How can I be sure this new approach has addressed the central
concern or resulted in a positive change-outcome?
Due to the complexity of healthcare cultures and the ambiguity around
health service “success,” establishing an open-minded attitude towards cross-
cultural care is essential in eliminating the cross-cultural barrier health
practitioners face. An imperative learning curve for myself throughout my
degree is that the focus should solely be on the patient and their affliction and
not myself. Even if the patient and his or her relatives, family situations or way
of living go against my cultural beliefs, it doesn’t mean that I have a right to
discriminate against them, and should be trying to support and supply them
PCP REFLECTION 2
the with the best possible care and advice on their condition regardless of
personal agendas. Adapting this approach should help to decrease the
patient’s anxiety about interacting with healthcare personnel from different
cultures, which has been proven to have an influence on a person’s level of
engagement during intercultural communication, especially if they think their
integrity will be questioned. Finally, I have also learned that it is important not
to assume a person’s preferences on the basis of their cultural background and
individualised discussions need to occur between the health professional and
the person in their care.
Apply my renewed approach next time around.
While I acknowledge that culture is a complex issue in healthcare, CQU’s
training has given me the tools to become capable of understanding the
cultural awareness requirements I must take on board and be able to portray
during encounters with culturally diverse patients. I must be aware of
theoretical ‘quick-fix’ solutions on how to act with patients from different
cultures due to it increasing the risk of stereotyping and ignoring the individual
differences that patients with similar cultural backgrounds may have. Overall, I
must invest the time into this area so that I become a competent, culturally
diverse clinician that positively reflects my training institutions curriculum.
References:
Kaihlanen, A., Hietapakka, L., & Heponiemi, T. (2019). Increasing cultural
awareness: qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions about cultural
competence training. BMC Nursing, 18(1). doi: 10.1186/s12912-019-
0363-x

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PCP REFLECTION 2

What is the reflective focus?

no means an expert, referring to the chiropractic code of conduct for

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