Cultural Diversity Resources for Clinical Preparation
Free Online Resources
The Federal Government’s Office of Minority Health includes information on CLAS regulations which require that institutions provide “Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services”. The site also provides specific information on the health beliefs and practices of several racial and cultural groups, and the prevalence of common health disorders among those groups in the US. Use the “Cultural Competency” tab and the “Minority Populations” tab to access this information.
Medscape for Nurses, part of WebMD, offers links to current literature on the care of diverse populations.
MedlinePlus, the consumer health information page sponsored by the National Institute of Health, is available in Spanish
UVa Health System Resources
The University of Virginia Health System offers resources for employees and students who are caring for patients whose primary language is not English. Halfway down the page, the user will note a link to “CultureGrams.” “CultureGrams” allows the user to select a geographic area and read a brief synopsis of the religious values, dietary preferences, and health and wellness beliefs that predominate in the selected area. This information can be printed to be included with the clinical preparation and possibly shared with other providers.