Essentials of Cultural Competence in Pharmacy Practice: Chapter 2 Notes

Chapter Authors: Dr. Kimberly Vess Halbur and

Dr. Duane A. Halbur

Cultural Self-Assessment

Learning Objectives1. List and explain the attitudes, knowledge and

skills necessary for cultural competence.2. Identify at least 5 steps that can enhance

one’s cultural competence3. Examine personal cultural background, beliefs

and biases that impact one’s work as a pharmacist

4. Identify existing instruments that assess cultural competence

5. Summarize personal results on the Multicultural Awareness Inventory

Definition of Cultural Competence…encompasses one’s knowledge, attitudes

and skills.An ongoing process that grows and

develops throughout the duration of one’s career and lifetime.

CC in Pharmacy Practice Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education:

pharmacists must be able to design, implement, monitor, evaluate, and adjust pharmacy care plans that are patient-specific; addressing health literacy, cultural diversity, and behavioral psychosocial issues.

Biologic factors such as genetic variations in gene structure, drug metabolism enzymes, receptor proteins also play a role in the efficacy and toxicity of a drug in patients with different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Phamacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research (research in the variation of drug response resulting from inherited differences in drug metabolism or drug targets based upon individual genes or all genes)

Pharmacogentics & pharmacogenomics have revealed genetic differences among populations that may affect a drug’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.

AttitudesPositive attitudes are needed toward

your own culture as well as the cultural heritage of your patients.

This begins by being able to appreciate, value and respect differences between your own heritage and that of your patients in areas such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation and cultural and health beliefs.

KnowledgeCulturally competent pharmacists

deliberately seek out various worldviews and explanatory models of disease, knowing that knowledge can help promote understanding between cultures.

Pharmacists need to seek knowledge about other cultures and use that knowledge to inform their skills and practice.

SkillsCulturally competent pharmacists possess

insight, patient assessment, and communication skills necessary to work with diverse populations.

Work toward continuous improvement in communication skills every day by seeking consultation with translators, cultural brokers, spiritual leaders and traditional healers.

Initial Steps Toward Cultural Competence1. Examine your cultural background.

2. Assess your level of cultural competence.

3. Immerse yourself in a community that you would like to learn more about.

4. Work with culturally/ethnically organized student groups, patient groups, or community groups.

5. Read about culture-specific disease states and evidence-based interventions and practice.

6. Host a brown-bag lunch focused on cultural competency.

7. Reach out to religious leaders and organizations.

8. Seek out traditional cultural healers.

9. Talk with patients from diverse backgrounds in your community.

10. Continue to learn.

Role of Cultural Competence in Pharmacy Practice

Oppression

Racism 1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human

character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

Race 1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished

as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.

2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race.

3. A genealogical line; a lineage. 4. Humans considered as a group. Ethnicity

More terms… Cultural Blindness—differences are ignored. Treat

all people the same thereby only meeting the needs of the dominant group.

Privilege—1 a. special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit granted to or enjoyed by an individual, class, or caste. b. Such an advantage, immunity, or right held as a prerogative of status or rank, and exercised to the exclusion or detriment of others.

2. The principle of granting and maintaining a special right or immunity: a society based on privilege.

Cultural PrivilegeA Caucasian professor’s view:

http://www.ndsu.edu/ndsu/news/magazine/vol06_issue02/privileged.shtml

Cultural CompetenceElusiveNo end pointRequires openness of mindGalanti (2004) points out the difference

between a generalization and a stereotype is that a generalization is a starting point whereas a stereotype is an end point.

Reflection Questions1. Your cultural background will impact your practice as a

pharmacist. What positive implications could your background contribute to your role as a pharmacist? What negative implications might exist?

2. In which areas of cultural competence do you feel most confident? In which areas do you feel least confident?

3. What did you learn when you read the cases of Brian and Sunita? What ideas did you have about Jewish people or Native Americans before reading the cases? After?

4. What diverse groups exist in your community that you could learn more about? What steps have you taken to become more competent in these areas?

5. Name the group(s) of people against whom you were taught biases. What have you done to rectify those beliefs? What can you still do?

6. What steps will you take to ensure an ongoing commitment to being a culturally competent pharmacist?