Name

Capella University

PSYC FPX 4900 Psychology Capstone Project

Prof. Name

January 2024

Introduction 

PSYC FPX 4900 assessment 3 Elena is an old Hispanic lady. She stays in a multicultural setting with her granddaughter Lucia. This case study deals with the problems Elena faces concerning cultural diversity, linguistic variation, and inequalities in healthcare service due to those differences (Antón-Solanas et al., 2022). As an immigrant with minimal use of the English language, she had to heavily rely on Lucia to survive and live daily, even in healthcare. This adds a level of interest to the case in terms of an intergenerational dynamic between Elena and Lucia, as family roles, cultural expectations, and the demands of modern healthcare collide.

This. In looking at cultural beliefs and practices, this presentation describes how they affect health-seeking behavior of Elena, an interaction with healthcare providers, as well as overall well-being. All of these case-related barriers are connected to the need for culturally competent care and appropriate communication strategies. Understanding these cases presents a window of insight into how best to access healthcare, as well as the ideal outcome for diverse populations.

Case Study of Elena 

Elena is an elderly Hispanic lady who resides with her granddaughter, Lucia, in a multicultural society. The case is an excellent example of how complex cultural values and language barriers influence access to health care, impacting her welfare to a great extent (Merino et al., 2024). An immigrant who is literate only in little English, Elena will require Lucia to understand her daily issues such as deciphering a doctor’s prescription or consulting a medical expert. Dependence is always going to cause a lot of friction in the relationship, which hints at the difference that arises between two generations and cultures. Elena’s seeking pattern in health care is an expression deeply set within the culture and practice and at times conflicts with the modern Western system of health care. Her unwillingness to discuss health concerns openly and preference for any type of folk remedy form a considerable barrier to proper and timely care. These challenges are enhanced by the language barrier, which might eventually result in miscommunication and a lack of trust in the healthcare system. Furthermore, she does not have information on the structure and available resources within the U.S. healthcare system, adding to her difficulties in accessing preventive and follow-up care. The case of Elena brings out culturally sensitive care, interpreter services, and education as a significant gap to bridge in understanding and treatment. The methods used by healthcare providers for patient-centered approaches incorporating cultural diversity and the availability of equitable care for vulnerable populations are needed.

Cultural Differences 

Cultural differences are crucial elements in Elena’s life: her family and the broader healthcare structure (Frigerio et al., 2024). Traditional Hispanic values within Elena’s family may focus on interconnectedness, respect for elders, and reliance on home remedies or spiritual practices, which may often clash with the more individualistic and clinically focused health approach of the West. Her dependence on Lucia to translate between her and the healthcare providers shows a cultural expectation of support from family members, but this also brings about tension because of the differences in values and priorities between generations. For example, while Elena might prefer holistic and traditional healing methods, Lucia might insist on more conventional medical treatments, causing confusion and delays in treatment. Moreover, unawareness of the cultural background on the part of healthcare providers will misinterpret the reticent or non-verbal behavior of Elena, further complicating the provision of care. This is due to a breakdown in the culturally competent practices within the provider by understanding the implications of family participation in decision-making and respect towards Elena’s culturally preferred way to be incorporated within evidence-based plans of care.

Case Study 

Elena’s case has depicted complex problems of culturally diverse people who experience challenges while finding their way within healthcare systems. As an older Hispanic woman, Elena barely understands the language. Therefore, most of the communications are conducted and interpreted through her granddaughter, Lucia. Grounded in her culture, Elena strongly values family support, traditional remedies, and spiritual practices that conflict with the medical approaches used by Westerners at times. Her reluctance to openly discuss health concerns and a preference for alternative healing methods prevent effective care. Generational issues with Lucia, who tends towards modern healthcare solutions, create friction in their communication and make the decision-making process harder. Language and cultural barriers from healthcare providers more often than not lead to communication breakdowns, incomplete care, and mistrust. Elena’s case highlights the urgent need for culturally competent care, interpreter services, and integration of cultural practices into treatment plans to bridge gaps, build trust, and promote equitable healthcare outcomes for diverse populations.

The Ethics Code of Conduct 

The Ethics Code of Conduct is a leading practice of professionalism, providing a broad guide and benchmarks for professionals that relate to integrity, accountability, and conscientious decision-making conduct (Forster & Maxwell, 2022). It highlights respect for the rights and the dignity of all concerned, ensuring fairness, discretion, and keeping with legal, professional, and cultural practices. The code assists professionals in negotiating complex situations, resolving conflicts, and maintaining the highest standards in their field through trust and ethics. It also emphasizes cultural competency, encouraging professionals to consider various perspectives and avoid bias in their work. Compliance with the Ethics Code of Conduct not only protects clients and stakeholders but will also enhance the credibility and reputation associated with the practice. Adhering to those principles ensures professional acts with a responsibility that contributes to trust as well as positive outputs in professional life.

Cultural Issues 

Cultural issues have played a great role in Elena’s healthcare experiences, interactions, and well-being. Elena is an elderly Hispanic woman who has deep roots in her culture. She faces problems resulting from differences between her traditional values and the expectations of the Western healthcare system. The most influential cultural factors in her life include a strong reliance on family support, a preference for home remedies, and a holistic approach to health  (Omer et al., 2021). Such practices may be opposed to the developed medical practices and may create confusion and lags in the proper care. Additionally, Elena’s poor English vocabulary makes matters complicated since she is not in a position to explain her plight to doctors or other healthcare givers and, at the same time, has a problem asking questions or getting advice. The cultural conflict between generations, from Elena to her grandchild, Lucia, also heightens the problems above. Lucia will respect Elena’s traditions but oftentimes promote a modern approach, which is set to cause friction in this decision-making. Healthcare providers will also unknowingly fuel these issues should they not recognize or take heed of cultural needs by Elena, giving way to distrust or being misunderstood. These cultural issues in healthcare systems would require culturally responsive practices, ranging from the offer of interpreter services to including cultural beliefs in treatment plans and in the overall environment set that respects people’s diversity.

Professional Behaviors 

Professionalism refers to some fundamental characteristics in a field, where establishing trust, respect, and relationships among people in a field becomes crucial. From numerous features, some basic ingredients that form the criteria for standards of professional behaviors are integrity, accountability, and making ethical decisions. Respect for individual rights, dignity, and cultural background should be ensured through equitability and justice between people. One feature of effective professionalism includes clarity and empathy and being an active listener in communicating well. Other qualities include being on time, responsible, and having the commitment to continuous learning for further improvement and attaining excellence. All of these encompass the practice of confidentiality, the practice of cultural competence, and an ethical code of conduct about delivering compassionate care with a focus centering on the patient. Such professionals will always exhibit such behaviors and build strong, collaborative relationships that ensure positive outcomes and enhance their field’s reputation.

PSYC FPX 4900 assessment 3 Conclusion 

Conclusion: Elena’s case depicts the deep-seated influence of cultural differences, language barriers, and generational dynamics on access to care and health outcomes (Gopalakrishnan, 2021). The story depicts how adopting culturally sensitive practices respecting the beliefs and traditions of people yet enabling effective communication for equal care is essential. It would need teamwork on the part of health professionals, families, and systems to close culture gaps and instill trust with an injection of Indigenous values in modern practice. Practitioners will only achieve such comfortable surroundings leading to enhanced health conditions if they build up an amiable rapport by reaching out in sympathy and respecting a multitude of people. Elena’s case is a new example of a patient-centered approach: one that embraces diversity and seeks to close gaps in healthcare delivery disparities.

PSYC FPX 4900 assessment 3 References 

Antón-Solanas, I., Rodríguez-Roca, B., Vanceulebroeck, V., Kömürcü, N., Kalkan, I., Tambo-Lizalde, E., Huércanos-Esparza, I., Casa Nova, A., Hamam-Alcober, N., Coelho, M., Coelho, T., Van Gils, Y., Öz, S. D., Kavala, A., & Subirón-Valera, A. B. (2022). Qualified nurses’ perceptions of cultural competence and experiences of caring for culturally diverse patients: a qualitative study in four European countries. Nursing Reports, 12(2), 348–364. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep12020034

Frigerio, A., Knight, T., Rella, R., Sinigaglia, E., Elisabetta Camussi, & Montali, L. (2024). Experiences of parenting for autistic children in Australia and Italy: a qualitative cross-cultural comparison. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1409234

Forster, D., & Maxwell, B. (2022). Using codes of professional ethics and conduct in teacher education: pitfalls and best practice. Using Codes of Professional Ethics and Conduct in Teacher Education: Pitfalls and Best Practice, 25–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16922-9_3

Gopalkrishnan, N. (2021). Culture, diversity, and global health: challenges and opportunities. Handbook of Global Health, 103–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45009-0_5

Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024). Body perceptions and psychological well-being: a review of the impact of social media and physical measurements on self-esteem and mental health with a focus on body image satisfaction and its relationship with cultural and gender fa