Cultural Aspects of Health Behavior – HLTH 623
CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 03/06/2024
Course Description
This course examines cultural perspectives on beliefs and health risk perception in relationship to health behavior. The cultural aspects of healthcare use through "healers" and health systems are also examined.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Rationale
Culture plays a significant role in health care utilization. It determines the frequency and types of services accessed. It also contributes to health disparities by producing barriers to care. Healthcare workers must be sensitive to the belief systems and cultural practices of others regardless of the setting. When working internationally, however, workers are likely to find themselves in an unfamiliar cultural setting. This situation requires a much greater level of cultural competency to be able to successfully work around and within the cultural traditions of the host nation.
Course Assignment
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Discussions (2)
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion assignment. Each thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words. (CLO: A, B)
Reflection Paper Assignment
The student will write a 4–5-page assessment of his/her own culture. In the paper, the student will describe his/her familial cultural background. The paper must address similarities and differences between the student’s own culture and other major cultural groups studied in the course. Particular attention must be given to sources of bias toward people of other cultures. The student must also investigate ways to minimize the impact of his/her cultural biases when providing public health services to others. (CLO: A, B)
Cultural Anthropology Project: Cultural Health Barriers-Risks Paper Assignment
The student will be assigned a cultural group or country by the instructor from a list of geographic and cultural groups for the assignment. The student will research the assigned culture and identify culturally related health barriers and risks. The written paper must be 7–10 pages and include a minimum of 5 scholarly sources. All information must be properly cited using current AMA style. A ¾–1-page bulleted talking paper must be attached as an appendix to the document. (CLO: C, D, E)
Cultural Anthropology Project: Cultural Solutions and Video Presentation Assignment
The student will design a workable solution to mitigate the health barriers or risks identified in his or her Cultural Health Barriers-Risks Paper, using content and methods that would be culturally appropriate and acceptable to the priority population. It will be presented as a 12–15 slide PowerPoint presentation with presentation notes. Each notes section at the bottom of each slide must be 250–350 words. Create an original video presentation of this project. The video must be 10-15 minutes. This assignment will be a true test of the student’s ability to demonstrate competence on all course outcomes. The grade will be determined by a combination of the written and oral components. (CLO: C, D, E)
Service Learning Experience Project Assignment
During this course, the student will select an organization (of his/her choice) that has an emphasis on either global health, infectious diseases in general, and/or a particular infectious disease. Once the selection has been, the student will devote 8 hours of volunteer time to the organization working on a project and/or task mutually agreed upon by the student and his/her point of contact with the organization. The student will share information about the organization he/she is working with during the Module 3: Week 3 Discussion and submit a reflection and log during Module 8: Week 8. (CLO: C)
Quizzes (4)
There will be a quiz every two weeks that covers the Learn material pertaining to the assigned modules. Each quiz has 12 questions and a time limit of 60 minutes. The quizzes are open-book and open-notes. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)
