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Welcome Diversity,
Healing, and Health Care, a cooperative project of On Lok
SeniorHealth and the Stanford Geriatric Education Center (Division
of Family and Community Health, Stanford University School of
Medicine), and partially funded through a grant from the Bureau of
Health Professions, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
......What
is this site?
Diversity, Healing and
Healthcare presents cultural and religious information relevant to
healthcare providers. It is not intended to be a complete view of
any culture or religion, but rather 'sound bytes' to provide
information that may impact communication between health care
providers and patients who are from different cultures. Content
experts, including clinicians, patients, diversity trainers,
clergy, and educators have reviewed the information.
......We
each belong to multiple cultures of heritage, work, education,
economics, religion, etc. There is no single explanation about the
interaction of our cultures. That is what makes us individuals,
groups, and nations. This site cannot take the place of
understanding each individual as a unique blend of beliefs and
social practices, but can offer some practical information and
tips.
.....Site
Organization - There are three key content sections in this
site:
Greetings and introductions:
You know that your patient will improve her medication and/or
exercise regime if she has support from her family. You are
looking for information about introducing ideas to the family, and
negotiating an improvement in the follow through of your patient's
health regime. Check the Greetings and Introduction section for
differences in negotiating health care needs with patients and
families.
Religions: Other health care
providers have told you that your patient has some specific eating
habits that may effect nutrition, and impact other health care
issues. The person providing the information thinks it may have
something to do with the patient's religious beliefs, but has no
further information. You will need to discuss the problems that
nutrition is causing with the patient and family. Check the
Religions section to find information about the connection between
dietary and religious beliefs.
Cohort life events: You suspect that
some life events may be affecting your 80-year-old patient related
to cooperation with other health care workers. Check the Cohort
Life Events section for information that will help you explain
this to the other health care workers.
The section
'Scenarios and Definitions' provides
case studies as examples of clinical cases in which the diversity
information might be useful, and definitions of common diversity
terminology. Scenarios and Definitions' can be helpful,
particularly to those with less diversity experience, but is not
essential to moving through the site.The
scenarios are presented to offer functional activities in learning
to find information within Diversity, Healing, and Health
Care. A brief scenario has been written for each of the
content areas. There are multiple answers related to different
cultures for each scenario.
.....How
can this site help you?
The information in this
program can help begin the clinician-patient communication in
culturally diverse situations. The program was designed with the
idea that the user would need minimal training in how to move
through the information,and so that the program could integrate
into the clinician's work, perhaps as a desktop shortcut to the
site. As you navigate this program, your movement and access to
information is self-directed. There is no single way to move
through the information. It is designed with the idea that you can
revisit the site and find specific cultural or religious
information quickly, and return to the clinic where you can use
the information to enhance communication with patients, and more
easily achieve agreement about health care needs, compliance or
follow-through. The time you spend in the Diversity Program will
vary with your interest and exploration of the
material.
.....How
can you help this site?
A vital part of this site includes feedback
on the use and content. After exploring the program, users are
asked to email
Dr. Napier-Tibere before leaving the
site. Your email
provides feedback and helps us know the
usefulness of the site so we can maintain funding to support and
expand the site. You can also provide feedback through the email
links to the designer/webmaster (Dr. Napier-Tibere) of the site on
many pages.
.....The
usability testing was conducted as dissertation research by
Napier-Tibere as partial fulfillment of the requirements of a
Doctorate of Education from Pepperdine
University. Of the 90
participants who submitted usability surveys during the study, 92%
said they would return to the site for additional information. The
program will be continually edited related to the feedback with
the goal of enhancing information to improve communication and
patient involvement in determining health care
regimes.
.....Corrections
and additions to this site are welcomed.
You can contact the researcher for
information, corrections, and contributing information at
bdnapier[at]comcast.net
.We continue to welcome your
suggestions for changes, corrections, and expansion of the
information.
