“I went to have some blood tests. The person doing the test was asking me questions but I couldn’t understand anything. There was no interpreter and I couldn’t ask for one because I don’t speak any English. Some days later a man called me on my mobile phone. He was talking in English. I tried to get someone off the street to listen and translate but the doctor just kept talking, talking and then hung up the phone. I don’t know how to get the results of my tests.” (Brough, 2006, p14)

Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse nations in the world. Almost 25% of the population were born overseas, over 200 languages are spoken, and 116 religions practiced (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016). Although all Australians have the right to equitable healthcare, patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds (including Aboriginal Peoples) experience almost twice as many adverse events as English-speaking patients (Multicultural Health Communication 2013), and they are more likely to experience medication errors, misdiagnosis, incorrect treatment, and poorer pain management.

Misunderstandings, miscommunication, and culturally-unsafe care by healthcare professionals are frequently reported (Johnstone & Kanitsaki 2006), and CALD patients often describe feelings of powerlessness, vulnerability, loneliness and fear when undergoing healthcare (Garrett et al. 2008).

Culture: Ways of thinking and behaving that are socially accepted among a particular group or society. Culture is not static. It is influenced by political and economic conditions and varies with factors such as age, gender, class, education and personality. The aspects of culture we can easily see in others (for example food, dress and language) can be likened to the tip of an iceberg: the majority is hidden from view, and largely unknown.

While there is no single cause of the inequalities in healthcare experienced by CALD patients, research has identified that clinical encounters that do not acknowledge and address cultural factors contribute significantly to adverse patient outcomes and health inequality (Johnstone & Kanitsaki 2008). Thus, practical strategies for improving the provision of culturally competent care are needed. For example:

• Adapting service delivery to be consistent with each patient’s cultural values and beliefs (such as the provision of gender-specific rooms)
• Developing the capacity for self-awareness and identification of personal biases and prejudices (which we all have)
• Accessing interpreters when required (and more often than is the norm in many settings); and
• Undertaking cultural assessments as a part of routine clinical practice.

In this article I will focus specifically on how to undertake a cultural assessment. It is recognised that assessment underpins safe practice, and nurses are all too familiar with the need to routinely conduct fall risks assessments, pressure area assessments, nutrition assessment and vital signs etc.. Although cultural assessments are equally important, they are rarely a part of routine nursing care. The ‘ABCD’ mnemonic for cultural assessment (Kagawa-Singer & Backhall 2001) provides a structure for undertaking a cultural assessment that is easy to remember and put into practice.

Attitudes

Take the time to explore the attitudes and values of the patient and their family with regards to:

• The meaning of illness
• Truth telling in relation to diagnosis and prognosis
• Communicating about death and dying
• Traditional healing practices versus Western healthcare.

Cultural competence: Behaviours, attitudes and policies that enable organisations, professions and individuals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

Beliefs

• Ask about the patient’s and family’s religious and spiritual beliefs, especially in relation to the meaning of death and dying, the afterlife, healing and miracles
• Ask how the patient and their family make sense of their illness and find strength in times of suffering
• Ask how you can best support their spiritual and religious needs and practices.

Context

Determine the historical and political context of the patient’s life, including:

• Place of birth
• Refugee or immigrant status
• Socioeconomic status
• Language/s spoken
• Degree of assimilation into Western culture
• Degree of support from and integration with their cultural community.

Also identify community resources that may be of assistance to healthcare professionals, patients and family members, such as translators, healthcare workers, community groups, religious leaders, and traditional healers.

Decision-Making Style

Identify the general decision-making style of the cultural group, and specifically, the patient and their family. Explore whether individual or family decision-making processes are used. Ask questions such as:

• How are decisions about healthcare made in your family?
• Who is the head of the family?
• Is there anyone else I should talk to in your family about your condition?

When used consistently, the ‘ABCD’ mnemonic for cultural assessment will help you to improve communication with CALD patients and avoid stereotyping. Ultimately, undertaking cultural assessments will help healthcare professionals deliver safe and person-centred care to all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, culture or language.