Working across cultures: a model for practice in developing countries

The aim of this study was to identify the influence that cultural values have on the practice of nurses working in developing countries in primary health care. This was achieved through the exploration of their common experiences of practice using an ethnographic approach with ethnosemantic analysis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of nursing studies 1999-10, Vol.36 (5), p.371-378
Main Author: Parfitt, Barbara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology, Cultural
Biological and medical sciences
Cultural values
Culture
Dependence
Developing Countries
Expatriate nurses
Expatriates
Female
Health participants
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Models, Nursing
Nurse-Patient Relations
Nurses
Nursing
Primary health care
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Social Values
Transcultural Nursing - methods
Tropical medicine
Working
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Summary:The aim of this study was to identify the influence that cultural values have on the practice of nurses working in developing countries in primary health care. This was achieved through the exploration of their common experiences of practice using an ethnographic approach with ethnosemantic analysis as the research tool. Western expatriate nurses represent a dominant Western culture and so carry with them the values and beliefs of the West into their practice, thus potentially creating greater dependence rather than supporting the primary health care principles exhorted through Alma Ata of self reliance and community participation. The study showed that the effect is determined by the values that influence practice. These values are either modified by the expatriate nurses to create an enabling environment or there is a failure to modify their values so promoting dependence through a ‘helping’ or ‘aid giving’ approach.
ISSN:0020-7489
1873-491X
DOI:10.1016/S0020-7489(99)00038-3