Culture versus Technology: Bridging the Gap to Improve COVID-19 Prevention and Care based on the COVID-19 Task Force Perspectives

BACKGROUND: The diversity of Indonesians’ cultural backgrounds is a challenge for Indonesia’s coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 Task Force efforts to prevent COVID-19. The “infodemic” or misleading information in the community generates both positive and negative responses toward COVID-19. AIM: The study aims to explore the extent of Indonesia’s COVID-19 prevention and care efforts based on the perspective of the COVID-19 Task Force officers, as the frontline in society. METHODS: This descriptive qualitative study explored the extent of COVID-19 prevention and care based on the perspective of 16 COVID-19 Task Force participants from each region in Sumedang, Indonesia. Data collection was undertaken during the pandemic through semi-structured interviews using telephone (n = 13) and face-to-face (n = 3) approaches. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: community sentiment toward COVID-19, origin of COVID-19 in the region, collective cultural activities in local communities, and the use of information and communication technology related to COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Collaboration with religious leaders and community leaders to integrate the concept of cultural care with the use of technology can be developed to improve COVID-19 prevention and care.

Mystery and multiculturalism: Should the musterion of Ephesians 3 encourage multiculturalism in South African churches?

The objective was the examination of the musterion of Ephesians 3, whether it encouraged multiculturalism in South African churches. The knowledge gap was to find further biblical direction for churches experiencing cultural transitions and demographic changes. The research method was a qualitative analysis of biblical texts, as applied specifically in a South African setting, with global implications. The significance would be the cultural transitions of churches from homogeneous, local churches into culturally heterogeneous, local churches. Further questioning the homogeneous unit principle (HUP) in the light of Scripture, especially Ephesians. The results found that the musterion in Ephesians 3 pointed to the Holy Spirit’s original intension for multicultural local churches. This mystery was found to be the witness of the church in this world and cosmically, to allay fear and prejudice. Further research is recommended into addressing the fears of globalisation in local churches. The contextual context affected local churches in post-Apartheid South Africa and many local churches around the world experiencing globalisation. These findings affect possible blind spots in theological studies in the New Testament, cross-cultural care in Practical Theology, Missiological findings for church growth and church planting, along with sociological findings in multiculturalism.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article deals with concerns for New Testament, missiology and practical theology. It challenges the homogenous unit principle in the light of Pauline discourse and synthesises research to form a contextual response to the need for multiculturalism in South African churches.

Examination of resident characteristics associated with interest in primary care and identification of barriers to cross-cultural care

Background There is an increasing shortage of primary care physicians in the U.S. The difficult task of addressing patients’ sociocultural needs is one reason residents do not pursue primary care. However, associations between residents’ perceived barriers to cross-cultural care provision and career interest in primary care have not been investigated. Objective We examined residents’ career interest in primary care and associations with resident characteristics and their perceived barriers in providing cross-cultural care. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a resident survey from the 2018–2019 academic year. We first described residents’ sociodemographic characteristics based on their career interest in primary care (Chi-square test). Our primary outcome was high career interest in primary care. We further examined associations between residents’ characteristics and perceived barriers to cross-cultural care. Results The study included 155 family medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine residents (response rate 68.2%), with 17 expressing high career interest in primary care. There were significant differences in high career interest by race/ethnicity, as Non-White race was associated with high career interest in primary care (p < 0.01). Resident characteristics associated with identifying multiple barriers to cross-cultural care included disadvantaged background, multilingualism, and foreign-born parents (all p-values< 0.05). There were no significant associations between high career interest in primary care and barriers to cross-cultural care. Conclusion Residents from diverse racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds demonstrated higher career interest in primary care and perceived more barriers to cross-cultural care, underscoring the importance of increasing physician workforce diversity to address the primary care shortage and to improve cross-cultural care.

Revolutionizing the Nursing Curriculum

There have long been challenges associated with integrating knowledge about diversity, disparities, and determinants into nursing curricula. Villarruel, Bigelow, and Alvarez describe these concepts as the three Ds about issues of disconnects and discrimination. These disconnects are evidenced by years of communicating the desire to reduce or eliminate disparities, without improvement in the education of future nurse professionals to prepare them to help achieve this goal. Over 10 years ago, Allen reviewed the literature on evidence to guide teaching on cross-cultural care and antiracism in nursing education, yet very little has changed. It is essential that academic nursing weaves health equity concepts throughout all programs, and establishes and maintains competency in and commitment to addressing health disparities, inequalities, and inequities. This article provides evidence of continued bias and racism, and suggestions for curricular change and student and educator training, in order to rebuild and solidify a nursing curriculum that is nonbiased and inclusive. The suggestions include a deeper look at the structures of the organization and the systemic culture, to ensure that racism is being combated as well.

Personal and professional characteristics of the primary care nurse in the cultural care of migrant populations

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the personal and professional characteristics perceived by primary nurses from a province located in the Maule region, Chile, regarding care with cultural relevance of the migrant person. Method Qualitative paradigm with an instrumental case study design, participated 9 professionals from 3 Family Health Centers, meeting inclusion criteria. The article is part of the doctoral thesis work and has the approval of the Scientific Ethics Committee of the Universidad Católica Del Maule. Data collection was through in-depth semi-structured interviews, between January and February 2020. The analysis was carried out from Albert Schütz’s sociophenomenology with hermeneutical components. Results Empathy and cultural knowledge stand out as personal characteristics and in the professional area, comprehensive knowledge, and care. Final considerations Caring with cultural relevance is a challenge for nursing, training in cultural competence is required and continue researching on the subject.

HEALTH-DISEASE-CARE PROCESS IN OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS: PERSPECTIVE OF CULTURALLY COHERENT CARE

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the health-disease-care process of the older adult living in rural areas. Method: a qualitative research study from the perspective of Madeleine Leininger's Theory of Diversity and Universality of Cultural Care, carried out with the participation of 19 older adults living in the rural area of a municipality in southern Brazil. Data collection took place in July and August 2018 by means of semi-structured interviews and simple observation. And data analysis was performed following Laurence Bardin's Content Analysis proposal. Results: the conceptions of health and disease of the older adult living in rural areas are mainly related to the ability and inability to perform the activities of daily living and work, especially with the land and animals. We highlight the care practices of older adults living in rural areas with regard to the use of medications, food consumption and the practice of physical exercise. In addition, the notion about their health condition and the capacity for self-management and adaptation to the challenges of the health-disease-care process. Conclusion: the health-disease-care process of older adults living in rural areas is influenced by social and cultural factors of the context in which they are inserted. This suggests the planning, implementation, development, evaluation and (re)formulation of health policies, programs and actions focused on providing culturally congruent care, which encompasses more than the singularities of the rural area, in the sense of dichotomy in relation to the urban area.

Family culture versus institutional hospital culture: a relation between two worlds

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the relation between family culture and hospital institutional culture. Method: Qualitative study, carried out in 2017, with relatives of children admitted to a Hospital in southern Brazil. The study included non-participant observation, to gain familiarity with the investigated cultural context; participant observation, to know the respondents’ experiences; and interviews. The data were coded and theoretical formulations and recommendations were made. Results: Fifteen family members participated. Hospitalization is a time of encounter and interaction between family culture and institutional culture. Conclusion: Hospital culture is presented as an instrument of family care and adaptation and flexibility of norms and routines to humanize cultural care.

Cultural Competence Perspectives From Nurses in Four Asian Countries: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Objective: This study aimed to describe the perception of cultural competence (CC) among nurses of four Asian countries. Material and Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was carried out, including fourteen nurses for in-depth interviews and 63 nurses for 8 focus group discussions being purposively selected from four Asian countries. Data were analyzed based on content analysis. Results: The participants defined CC as similar to cultural care, and described their CC in four main themes: (1) caring focus for patients with different cultures, (2) valuing holistic care/ patient-centered nursing, (3) preparing for living with God or Buddha, and (4) considering the social norms and patient rights. Assessment of the patient’s cultural background and myths contrary to medicine, along with having professional nursing knowledge, skills, and experience were the components of CC. Conclusion: The participants have addressed their CC in providing culturally, congruent care with a universal, holistic, and empathetic approach. Nurses should be trained to develop skills in multicultural care and language and made aware of their patients’ cultural beliefs. Further, CC scales for nurses working in the selected, four Asian countries should be developed.