Learning Module Topics

Quality Health Information and Cultural Competence

Health Literacy

Definition: “Whether a person can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services that are needed to make suitable health decisions. Health literacy includes the ability to understand instructions on prescription drug bottles, appointment cards, medical education brochures, doctor’s directions, and consent forms. It also includes the ability to navigate complex health care systems. Health literacy is not simply the ability to read. It requires a complex group of reading, listening, analytical, and decision-making skills and the ability to apply these skills to health situations” (CDC, 2014, para. 10).

One of the most common barriers to quality health information and health care is health literacy (Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 2013). Understanding basic health information is a step towards receiving appropriate care. Below are links for a terminology dictionary and a guideline in finding quality health information.

Tools for Understanding Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology Dictionary

Guideline for Finding Reliable Health Information

Finding Quality Information to Support Health

Cultural Competence

Awareness, Identify, and Respect cultural beliefs and traditional practices

Culture: “is the blended patterns of human behavior that include “language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups” (CDC, 2014, para. 3).

Cultural Awareness: “is sensitivity to the similarities and differences that exist between two different cultures and the use of this sensitivity in effective communication with members of another cultural group” (Health Education and Training Institute [HETI], 2017, para. 2).
In the following video, The Healing Begins by Dr. Sanderson, they talk about the importance of being able to communicate with patients especially taking into account the cultural and ethnic background. Being culturally competent allows for patients to have a better understanding of what doctors are doing and why.
Look at how culture supports/challenges health beliefs and practices
The following are examples experienced in Navajo culture. Navajo culture affects health belief by provides this idea that health is collective, meaning that the surroundings, family, wealth, animals, etc represent the health status of a person while clinical professions focus on the individual. This understanding can help health professionals get a better view of what may be causing patients to get ill. Culture also affects health practices by certain meanings that others do not understand, for instance the source of food, achii (sheep intestine wrapped around layers of fat) is comprised of mostly fat and is consumed from time to time. This practice over time could lead to several health problems.

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