Culture in Clinical Care

Culture in Clinical Care: Strategies for Competence explores theory and practice to define and describe the multidimensional nature of culture and its interaction with an individual’s experience in the development of beliefs, values, and behavior. The newly updated Second Edition examines cultural beliefs related to health and wellness and how these beliefs and their associated actions affect intervention strategies.

Based on ethnographic methods, strategies for culturally sensitive assessment and intervention are defined and illustrated, with ample opportunities for reflection and practice. Going beyond traditional fact-centered and attitude-centered approaches, Culture in Clinical Care, Second Edition describes the ways in which culture emerges as individuals interact with each other in physical and social environments.

This one-of-a-kind text by Dr. Bette Bonder and Dr. Laura Martin provides health care practitioners and students with chapter objectives, critical thinking questions, interdisciplinary case studies and examples, numerous activities to build observation and interaction skills, comprehensive references and online resources, and images. The book’s organization emphasizes practice and reflection by interweaving theory, examples, and continuous hands-on application of concepts. Readers have the opportunity to practice what they are learning and evaluate their own effectiveness while being constantly reminded that all individuals in any interaction embody numerous cultural influences.

Benefits of the updated Second Edition:

• Training and practice in ethnographic methods that build awareness and skill
• Numerous examples, exercises, and activities for reflection and observation
• Interdisciplinary approach suitable for cross-disciplinary teaching contexts
• Definition of health care professions themselves as cultures
• Web and bibliographic resources
• Case studies involving a wide range of practitioner disciplines and cultural groups

Culture in Clinical Care: Strategies for Competence, Second Edition fills a niche in health professions programs because of its combined emphasis on a theoretical foundation that highlights the individual as a cultural actor and on practical strategies and methods for clinical interventions.

Occupational therapists, physicians, physician assistants, mental health professionals, and a variety of related health professionals will benefit from this interactive, interdisciplinary text.