Exercise #41
Multiculturalism and Health
Authors: Olha Fedortsiv, Emilia Burbela, Vladimir Dzyvak
60 min
Description
An experiential group exercise in which participants explore how cultural values shape attitudes towards health, identify health-related biases, and reflect on factors that positively or negatively influence personal and community health.
Methodological Guide
Objectives
1. Recognise health biases present in different cultures.
2. Identify and analyse factors (nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle) that affect health.
3. Critically evaluate common myths and stereotypes in healthcare.
4. Develop empathy and reflective practice when working with diverse patients.
2. Identify and analyse factors (nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle) that affect health.
3. Critically evaluate common myths and stereotypes in healthcare.
4. Develop empathy and reflective practice when working with diverse patients.
Expected Outcomes
Recognising and mitigating biases: the student will be able to identify at least three potential factors in their own conclusions when reviewing cases and suggest appropriate corrective actions or alternative approaches.
Reflection and action plan: the student will be able to conduct a structured self-analytical reflection, formulate 1–2 specific actions to improve their health, taking into account the traditions and customs of their culture, and apply the experience gained in working with patients from different cultural contexts.
Reflection and action plan: the student will be able to conduct a structured self-analytical reflection, formulate 1–2 specific actions to improve their health, taking into account the traditions and customs of their culture, and apply the experience gained in working with patients from different cultural contexts.
Exercise Procedure
1. Introduction (5 min): The teacher explains the purpose — individual self-assessment of factors influencing health, taking into account cultural traditions.
2. Logistics (10 min): The whole group divides into subgroups of 4. Each small group writes the tasks in their workbook.
3. Individual workbook: Each participant writes their personal workbook entries (the six fields in this exercise).
4. Subgroup discussion: Groups discuss positive and negative factors that influence health depending on cultural affiliation and form shared conclusions.
5. Full-group reporting: A representative from each subgroup reports on the results and the whole group forms general conclusions about the factors influencing participants' health.
6. Reflection and discussion: Guided by the discussion questions on slides 5–13.
2. Logistics (10 min): The whole group divides into subgroups of 4. Each small group writes the tasks in their workbook.
3. Individual workbook: Each participant writes their personal workbook entries (the six fields in this exercise).
4. Subgroup discussion: Groups discuss positive and negative factors that influence health depending on cultural affiliation and form shared conclusions.
5. Full-group reporting: A representative from each subgroup reports on the results and the whole group forms general conclusions about the factors influencing participants' health.
6. Reflection and discussion: Guided by the discussion questions on slides 5–13.
Mode of Implementation
Group activity
Role of the Teacher
The teacher facilitates the exercise through clear instructions and pacing, leads discussion and provides constructive feedback, ensures inclusivity and adaptation to the context, and summarises learning outcomes and next steps.
Theoretical Basis
This exercise is based on an awareness of the differences in attitudes towards health in different cultures, although it generally includes an emphasis on physical health (through sports, nutrition, healthy lifestyle) and mental well-being (stress reduction, positive emotions). The exercise includes: analysis of cultural traditions regarding health, discussion of the influence of various factors on health (nutrition, physical activity), practical exercises in physical culture, as well as studying the scientific foundations of health. It also relies on transformative learning, which challenges assumptions and promotes a shift in perspectives on prejudices, leading to a restructuring of beliefs and practices. Additionally, the exercise develops valeological awareness in participants, aimed at improving health, diagnosing health, preventing diseases, and creating an individual action plan to support and improve their own health and the health of patients and colleagues.
Practical Application
Improving one's own health, preventing diseases, analysing the health of colleagues and patients based on studying the impact of various factors on health. This contributes to a better understanding of the characteristics of the patient's body, their needs, and values, which will allow developing individualised care and treatment plans. Supporting ethical decision-making: The activity develops the ability to recognise how biases can influence clinical judgements and resource allocation.
Knowledge Transfer
The exercise promotes patient-centred care by increasing awareness of biases and developing empathetic communications. It improves professional orientation by clearly understanding the mechanisms of health deterioration, overcoming prejudices, and co-ordinating culturally appropriate care and treatment.
Reinforcement & Reflection
Self-reflection questions:
- What factors affect my health and how might they affect the diagnosis of my condition?
- What factors affecting my health need improvement based on today's experience?
- What new strategy for interpreting patient inquiries am I ready to implement next week?
- What ethical principles are most important to me when working with diverse patients?
Peer discussion prompts:
- Share your thoughts with colleagues about the factors influencing your health.
- Discuss a case where one or more factors caused the patient to develop a disease.
Activity to reinforce learning:
Information card: Make a list of factors that negatively affect your health. Write down specific actions that can reduce the negative impact of these factors and improve your health.
- What factors affect my health and how might they affect the diagnosis of my condition?
- What factors affecting my health need improvement based on today's experience?
- What new strategy for interpreting patient inquiries am I ready to implement next week?
- What ethical principles are most important to me when working with diverse patients?
Peer discussion prompts:
- Share your thoughts with colleagues about the factors influencing your health.
- Discuss a case where one or more factors caused the patient to develop a disease.
Activity to reinforce learning:
Information card: Make a list of factors that negatively affect your health. Write down specific actions that can reduce the negative impact of these factors and improve your health.
Assessment / Evaluation
The teacher evaluates each student's participation in discussing the cultural values of their classmates, their workbook entries, and their conclusions about the common and distinct cultural values in different cultures.
Discussion Topics
1. How can the social environment (family, religious community, university, group) enhance or weaken the influence of culture on health?
2. Is it possible to find a compromise between traditional methods of treating a patient and modern methods of treatment?
3. Where is the line drawn between respect for cultural customs and traditions and the need for medical intervention?
Group conclusions
- Group conclusions
2. Is it possible to find a compromise between traditional methods of treating a patient and modern methods of treatment?
3. Where is the line drawn between respect for cultural customs and traditions and the need for medical intervention?
Group conclusions
- Group conclusions
Further Resources
Lars J. Cultural perspectives of health: A global analysis on attitudes and customs. International Scholars Journals, 2023. ISSN 2756-3820 Vol.13 (4), pp.001-002.
Costa-Font J. Culture plays a role in personal health decisions. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2025/02/25/culture-plays-a-role-in-personal-health-decisions/
Dahlberg E. Cultural Differences in Attitudes towards Therapy and Help-Seeking Behavior in Sweden. International Journal of Psychology, 9(2), 50–60. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijp.2621
Costa-Font J. Culture plays a role in personal health decisions. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2025/02/25/culture-plays-a-role-in-personal-health-decisions/
Dahlberg E. Cultural Differences in Attitudes towards Therapy and Help-Seeking Behavior in Sweden. International Journal of Psychology, 9(2), 50–60. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijp.2621