A Culturegram for Diverse Populations

A culturegram can be used by clinicians as an an assessment tool to help understand culturally diverse patients and their families. The culturegram tool discussed in the paper "Cultural and ethical issues in working with culturally diverse patients" was developed for use by social workers. However, the concept is transferable and can be used by practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of their patients from various cultures.

The culturegram focuses on the following 10 areas:

• reasons for relocation
• legal status
• time in community
• language spoken at home and in the community
• health beliefs
• crisis events
• holidays and special events
• contact with cultural and religious institutions
• values about education and work
• values about family - structure, power, myths, and rules

After completing the culturegram the caregiver has a better understanding of the person, their family, and the best plan for treatment.

To read the whole paper:
Congress, E. P. (2004). Cultural and ethical issues in working with culturally diverse patients and their families:The use of the culturagram to promote cultural competent practice in health care settings. Social Work in Health Care, 39(3-4), 249-262.