EVALUATING CULTURE FROM THE NURSING PERSPECTIVE This week, we will examine a case study about smokers in Poland. As noted in the Center for Global Development and J

Tania Ferreira Matos

In the 1980s Poland has one of the highest rates of cigarettes consumption in the world leading to a low life expectancy of under 60 years due to the high rates of lung cancer, also the highest in the world (Center for Global Development, n.d.).

In the 1980s, anti-tobacco movements were initiated based on scientific research about smoking’s health impacts. By using free media, this information was spread to the community. In addition, the implementation of democracy in Poland led to the implementation of tobacco-control legislation. The media also informed the public about all the tobacco lobby efforts to combat this legislation, which influenced the public’s opinion. Among the largest public health campaigns ever conducted in Poland was the campaign encouraging Poles to quit smoking (Center for Global Development, n.d.).

The Polish government controlled the cigarette industry, so it wasn’t in their interest to warn the polish public about the dangers of cigarette smoking, especially during difficult economic times. As compared to other neighboring European countries, the Polish had less information about this. New tobacco legislation was rejected by the government and no tobacco laws were enforced. With the advent of a market economy in the 1990s, there was a greater variety of cigarettes, competitive pricing and appealing advertising, which led to a greater number of people smoking, including youngsters aged 11-15 (Center for Global Development, 1999).

Being culturally competent means understanding, appreciating, and interacting with people from different cultures. Interacting with diverse groups, listening without judgment, reading literature, attending cultural events, volunteering, and even traveling can help achieve this. As a result, we will be able to untie ourselves from our core beliefs, which is a major cause of cultural bias (Arkansas State University, n.d.).

Working with cultures that are either most different from my own or who I don’t work with often is challenging. I do however strive to be culturally competent, to listen to my patients, to be attentive to non-verbal cues such as body language and routines, and to learn from them. No matter what culture you come from, the most important thing in the healthcare field is that the patient feels heard and understood, and that their needs are met, whether they are physiological, informational and cultural.  

The nurse may generalize about a person from a particular group, particularly at the beginning of a consultation or assessment, as there hasn’t been enough time or opportunity for the nurse to get to know the person as a unique individual. It is important, however, that the nurse does not let that be the final point and the basis for assessment and intervention (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2020).

Culture knowledge is very important when living in a diverse community, especially