Cultural Heritage Paper
Cultural Heritage
Grand Canyon University
NRS-429V
February 10, 2013
Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage can be defined as a way of living one’s life including the customs, practices, values, beliefs, traditions and lifestyles that a person or group of people practice (Baker, 2007). Cultural heritage are those things that are passed down from generation to generation. Each generation practices the same or very similar practices as the generation before. This practice of passing down values, beliefs and traditions is the foundation of practicing cultural heritage (Baker, 2007).
This paper will discuss the differences and similarities of three different cultures identifying common health traditions based on the use of a cultural heritage assessment tool.
This tool asked a series of twenty nine questions about culture and respondents answered the questions accordingly. The greater the number of positive responses, the greater the individuals identification with a traditional heritage (Spector, 2000). The three cultures which participated in the cultural heritage assessment tool were American, Hispanic, and Polish. The three areas that were addressed were health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration within these three cultures. The similar and different health traditions were identified in all three cultures.
Health Restoration
Health restoration within the three cultures who participated in the cultural assessment tool was very different in their approach. The American’s used western type of medicine to help restore their health. The other two used a variety of methods to restore health. The visit to the family doctor or the specialist doctor was the method of choice and the use of pharmaceuticals to treat anything from infections to chronic disease states was very common practice with the American culture. The American culture seemed to be more apt to use all kinds of medical remedies available from herbs and over the
Grand Canyon University
NRS-429V
February 10, 2013
Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage can be defined as a way of living one’s life including the customs, practices, values, beliefs, traditions and lifestyles that a person or group of people practice (Baker, 2007). Cultural heritage are those things that are passed down from generation to generation. Each generation practices the same or very similar practices as the generation before. This practice of passing down values, beliefs and traditions is the foundation of practicing cultural heritage (Baker, 2007).
This paper will discuss the differences and similarities of three different cultures identifying common health traditions based on the use of a cultural heritage assessment tool.
This tool asked a series of twenty nine questions about culture and respondents answered the questions accordingly. The greater the number of positive responses, the greater the individuals identification with a traditional heritage (Spector, 2000). The three cultures which participated in the cultural heritage assessment tool were American, Hispanic, and Polish. The three areas that were addressed were health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration within these three cultures. The similar and different health traditions were identified in all three cultures.
Health Restoration
Health restoration within the three cultures who participated in the cultural assessment tool was very different in their approach. The American’s used western type of medicine to help restore their health. The other two used a variety of methods to restore health. The visit to the family doctor or the specialist doctor was the method of choice and the use of pharmaceuticals to treat anything from infections to chronic disease states was very common practice with the American culture. The American culture seemed to be more apt to use all kinds of medical remedies available from herbs and over the