Unterschiede im Krankheitsverständnis und transkulturelle Pflege

Disease, its origins, and its influence on human beings are seen differently in different cultures. Different terms are used to describe disease, and there are examples of very mythological or religious pictures and metaphors to understand it. Patients from foreign cultures use them to describe their disease to themselves and to their caregivers. Transcultural care challenges nurses to detect commonality as well as differences; under no circumstances must they impose their beliefs on patients from other cultures. Instead, carers need to see their patients’ peculiarities as an expression of their individual needs. As a background M. Leininger’s theory of transcultural care is described and criticized. Finally, there are some practical considerations for concrete nursing situations.