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Chapter 21: Cultural Influences on Health Beliefs and Practices

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Chapter 21: Cultural Influences on Health Beliefs and Practices

10 problems · 0 figures

21-1 §21.RQ source ↗

Which action should the nurse take to meet the nutritional needs of a Jewish client?
  1. a.
    Order a kosher meal for the client.
  2. b.
    Ask the client about their dietary preferences.
  3. c.
    Have the meal served on paper plates.
  4. d.
    Consult with the dietitian.

Answer

B. Ask the client about their dietary preferences.
Cultural dietary practices are complex and multifaceted. Therefore, the nurse should approach cultural dietary practices with respect and cultural sensitivity and ask the client about their unique dietary needs and preferences. The nurse should not make assumptions.

21-2 §21.RQ source ↗

The nurse is providing care to a client who follows a holistic medicine approach to health care. Which aspect of care should the nurse anticipate when developing a plan of care for this client?
  1. a.
    Decisions are guided by fate.
  2. b.
    Treatment should be aggressive.
  3. c.
    Physical and mental needs should be balanced.
  4. d.
    Statistical data will guide care.

Answer

C. Physical and mental needs should be balanced.
Features of holistic medicine include a balance between physical, psychological, and spiritual health and between nature and humanity to produce wholeness.

21-3 §21.RQ source ↗

A nurse who works with clients from different cultures wants to understand the invisible elements of culture. Which is an example of an invisible cultural element?
  1. a.
    Notions of time
  2. b.
    Clothing worn
  3. c.
    Traditional foods
  4. d.
    Language spoken

Answer

A. Notions of time
Culture consists of visible and invisible elements. Invisible elements are the intangible parts of a culture, such as communication styles, rules, etiquette, views of time and space, and handling of emotions.

21-4 §21.RQ source ↗

Which action should the nurse take to communicate with a client from a culture that is different from their own?
  1. a.
    Use touch as a therapeutic tool.
  2. b.
    Sit close to the client.
  3. c.
    Pay attention to the client’s nonverbal cues.
  4. d.
    Maintain eye contact even if the client does not.

Answer

C. Pay attention to the client’s nonverbal cues.
Nonverbal communication conveys messages without words. Cultures use different nonverbal cues to convey meaning or express emotion. The nurse should pay attention to the client’s use of nonverbal cues and not force nonverbal communication on the client.

21-5 §21.RQ source ↗

Which level of the cultural environment is being assessed when the nurse asks a client about family rituals and traditions?
  1. a.
    Microsystem
  2. b.
    Mesosystem
  3. c.
    Exosystem
  4. d.
    Macrosystem

Answer

A. Microsystem
The microsystem consists of the immediate environment in which an individual interacts, including family, friends, and other close relationships. Cultural factors at this level may include family traditions and beliefs, cultural values, and customs related to health and wellness.

21-6 §21.RQ source ↗

The nurse is discussing the importance of regular exercise with a client diagnosed with hypertension. The client responds, “I just don’t have the time for exercise.” The nurse determines that the client has which time orientation?
  1. a.
    Past time orientation
  2. b.
    Present time orientation
  3. c.
    Future time orientation
  4. d.
    Lack of time orientation

Answer

B. Present time orientation
Present-oriented people focus on the moment and respond to immediate needs. They live in the here and now, with future consequences playing a less significant role.

21-7 §21.RQ source ↗

The nurse is caring for a client who is reluctant to take pain medication, fearing that if they do so others will see them as weak. Which of the following statements best describes how the nurse should initially respond?
  1. a.
    The nurse should acknowledge the client’s cultural influences and listen to the client’s concerns.
  2. b.
    The nurse should provide additional education on the benefits of taking the medication.
  3. c.
    The nurse should encourage the client to prioritize their personal health and well-being.
  4. d.
    The nurse should encourage the client to prioritize their physical needs over what others may think.

Answer

A. The nurse should acknowledge the client’s cultural influences and listen to the client’s concerns.
Values and beliefs are non-visible aspects of culture that shape a client’s perspective. The nurse should acknowledge this and listen to the client’s concerns.

21-8 §21.RQ source ↗

The nurse is assessing a migrant worker who has abdominal pain. Which of the following questions should the nurse include as part of a culturally sensitive assessment?
  1. a.
    “Have you used any over-the-counter medications to treat the pain?”
  2. b.
    “Have you taken any medications or herbs or used any home treatments for the pain?”
  3. c.
    “Why do you think you are having this problem?”
  4. d.
    “What does your manager think about your illness?”

Answer

B. “Have you taken any medications or herbs or used any home treatments for the pain?”
Nurses should be prepared to ask clients questions that encourage them to share their health beliefs and cultural practices. Asking if the client has used any medications, herbs, or home treatments recognizes that there are other remedies, outside of traditional medical treatments, that clients may use when sick.

21-9 §21.RQ source ↗

The nurse is discussing risk factor modification with a client diagnosed with hypertension. Which client statement does the nurse recognize as representing an external locus of control?
  1. a.
    “High blood pressure causes blood vessel damage.”
  2. b.
    “My fate has already been determined.”
  3. c.
    “Eating right can improve my health.”
  4. d.
    “I am motivated to make lifestyle changes.”

Answer

B. “My fate has already been determined.”
Locus of control refers to an individual’s beliefs about the extent of their control over the environment and what happens to them. An individual with an external locus of control believes that external forces, such as luck or fate, determine outcomes.

21-10 §21.RQ source ↗

The nurse anticipates that a client from a culture that values collectivism will utilize which concept when making a health care decision?
  1. a.
    Making an independent decision
  2. b.
    Seeking input from the community
  3. c.
    Prioritizing mental health needs
  4. d.
    Considering all available options

Answer

B. Seeking input from the community
Collectivist cultures encourage interdependence and promote the interests of the collective over the individual. Interdependence and fitting in to maintain harmony are preferred.

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Problems and answers are adapted from Population Health for Nurses by Jessica Ochs, Sherry L. Roper and Susan M. Schwartz, OpenStax, and are used under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/population-health/pages/1-introduction. Illustrations: Copyright Rice University, OpenStax, under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. This adaptation is released under the same licence, is non-commercial, and is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by OpenStax or Rice University.