Sociocultural Determinants of Health and Healthcare

Catalog description

This course will introduce concepts and theories relevant to the care of diverse populations. Patterns of beliefs, values, behaviors and religious practices of major cultures of the world represented within our regional healthcare systems and their impact on health practices and healing behaviors of specific populations will be examined. Culture specific strategies for health promotion and disease management will be discussed. Social factors that influence perception of health and health behaviors will be reviewed. Health disparities experienced by specific populations in the U.S. will be critically analyzed with an emphasis on cumulative effects of social determinants of health upon healthcare outcomes for these populations. This course aims to increase cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and cultural competency and promote an understanding of strategies to improve outcomes for diverse patient populations.