Cultural Competence and Religious Sensitivity and Religion and Health 2

II.
Cultural Competence and Religious Sensitivity
The diversity of religion within our world's population brings challenges for health care
providers and systems to deliver culturally competent medical care. Cultural competence is the
ability of health providers and organizations to deliver health care services that meet the cultural,
social, and religious needs of patients and their families. Culturally competent care can improve
patient quality and care outcomes. Strategies to move health professionals and systems towards
these goals include providing cultural competence training and developing policies and
procedures that decrease barriers to providing culturally competent patient care.
Developing cultural competence to meet the spiritual needs of diverse patients
Meeting spiritual needs
People do different things to meet their spiritual needs, depending on what's important to them.
This can change over time, and might include:
 spending time with the people important to them

 spending time in nature
 spending time on hobbies
 Following religious customs, like prayer or going to religious services.
Culturally Competent Medical Care
Patient's beliefs, behaviors, and values are shaped by factors such as ethnicity, gender, language,
mental ability, nationality, occupation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic
status. Cultural competence is the provider and systems able to understand and integrate cultural
intelligence into the delivery of healthcare. The goal of providing culturally competent health
care services is to provide consistent quality of care to every patient, regardless of their cultural,
ethnic, racial, or religious background.
Strategies for improving cultural competence in individuals and systems include:
 Encouraging family to participate in healthcare decision making.
 Incorporating culture-specific values into health promotion
 Providing cultural awareness training
 Providing an environment that allows traditional healers
 Providing interpreter services
 Recruiting minority staff
Addressing biases and stereotypes related to religious beliefs
Religious biases and stereotypes can come in many forms. In the workplace, it pertains to how
employers, co-workers, clients, or customers treat employees differently—unfairly and unequally
—because of their beliefs or religious practices, or lack thereof.
Promoting respect for diverse religious beliefs and practices
Ways to Promote Religious Diversity In The Workplace

1. Educate yourself and your team.
2. Refrain from hurting religious beliefs.
3. Say NO to religious hatred.
4. Introduce a silent room.
5. Encourage a flexible dress code.
6. Sanction religious holidays.
7. Take note of dietary restrictions.
8. Religious Diversity must start from orientation.
III. Religion and Health
Exploring the relationship between religious beliefs, practices, and health outcomes
Understanding the impact of religion on health has become an important question guiding
research on health and healthcare practice. The finding of positive associations among religious
belief, healthy behaviors, and better health outcomes is consistent across a number of
populations.
Recent studies continue to find a positive association between religion and a variety of health
variables. Using both prospective and cross sectional designs, measures of religious involvement
have been associated with better physical and mental health (George, Ellison et al. 2002).
Religious attendance has been positively associated with decreased depression, improved
physical health and lower blood pressure, boosted immune functioning, enhanced physical
functioning and improved subjective health (Hill 1995).
Beneficial physiological changes have been attributed to certain religious practices such as
prayer and meditation. Herbert Benson, a cardiologist, termed this phenomenon the “relaxation
response.” He theorized that the physiological changes associated with regular religious practices
were beneficial by acting through the autonomic nervous system and endocrine pathways that
make daily stress detrimental (Benson, 1975). For many, religion also provides a network of
social support that helps in coping with physical, emotional and mental stressors (Davis
1994; Ferraro and Koch 1994; Droege 1995; Sutherland, Hale et al. 1995; Wilson
2000; Strawbridge, Shema et al. 2001)
Understanding the role of religious leaders in healthcare decision-making
Religious leaders and faith communities are the largest and best-organized civil institutions in
the world, claiming the allegiance of billions of believers and bridging the divides of race, class
and nationality. More than any other civil society representatives, religious leaders have the
experience of establishing and working with international partnerships.
Religious leaders are often the most respected figures in their communities. Buddhist monks and
nuns, imams, pastors, priests, punjaris, and leaders of other faith communities play a powerful
role in shaping attitudes, opinions and behaviors because their members trust them. Community
members and political leaders listen to religious leaders.
Especially at the family and community level, religious leaders have the power to raise
awareness and influence attitudes, behaviors and practices. They can shape social values in line
with faith-based teachings.

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II.

Cultural Competence and Religious Sensitivity

Developing cultural competence to meet the spiritual needs of diverse patients

Meeting spiritual needs

 spending time with the people important to them

Addressing biases and stereotypes related to religious beliefs

Ways to Promote Religious Diversity In The Workplace

III. Religion and Health

Understanding the role of religious leaders in healthcare decision-making

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