Cultural Misunderstanding In the Workplace

Cultural Misunderstanding In the Workplace

Female Dr.: Good morning Mrs. Abdur-Rahman. I understand you are having chest pains and need to be seen by a female Doctor? Can I help you today? What seems to be the problem?

Mrs. Abdur-Rahman : Good morning Dr. I thank you for seeing this morning. Because of my beliefs I prefer to see a female Doctor.

Female Dr.: Your request is perfectly acceptable, we want you to be comfortable so we may examine you without reservations.

Mrs. Abdur-Rahman. Thank you. ( Patient continues examination, letting the female doctor know the symptoms she has been experiencing.)

A Multi-Media Presentation

Set the Stage:

Video Explanation

Demonstrate how the situation could have been handled in a culturally competent manner.

This video is an explanation of why Muslim women cover themselves and the respect that they have created.

Mrs. Fatimah Abdur-Rahman grew up in a Muslim family from Saudia Arabia. She and her family traveled to the US when she was 10 to seek the American Dream. While leaving their country they still desired to hold on to their cultural roots and are practicing Muslims.

Demonstrate a workplace situation in which the clients’ or customers’ needs were not met because of poor communication due to cultural issues.

Second Scenario

(Dr. Walks into the room)

Scenario

In walks a female physician who introduces herself. The Muslim woman looks up and extends her hand to shake the female Dr.'s hand in gratitude.  She then proceeds to discuss with doctor how she is having sharp pains in her chest.  The doctor asks to examine the Muslim woman. she is asked to lift her shirt, which she does accordingly.  The female physician is able to thoroughly check her out and order an EKG be done, but only by a female so that the Muslim woman is not offended.  She thanks the doctor for her assistance and making this easy for her.   

Dr: Good morning Mrs. Abdur-Rahman. I see the nurse lists that you are experiencing chest pains

Mrs Abdur-Rahman: (While in pain knows she is unable to communicate with the male Dr., puts her head to the ground, lowering eyes

Dr: Mrs. In order for me to help you I need to be able to examine you (The Dr. approaches over to Mrs. Abdur-Rahman

Muslim woman comes into E/R complaining of chest pains.  She is triaged by a female nurse and put into a room.  The Muslim woman has head covering (hijab) and jilbab (Muslim dress for women that covers all of her body).  Once she is put into her room, a male physician enters.  When he enters she immediately lowers her eyes to the ground.  When he introduces himself he extends his hand to her to shake, which she doesn’t and she continues to look down.  She begins to say “la, la” which means NO.  The doctor then figures out that she is unable to be seen by a man. 

Dr. is flustered and unfamiliar with Mrs. Abdur-Rahman's culture.

He seeks the advice of a fellow colleague who happens to be Muslim and from the same region.

References:

Second scenario

Set the Stage:

Is what the Dr. did correct?

Week four assignment

Female Dr. Walks into the room

What were the cultural factors that made it disrespectful for the women to speak with the doctor?

• Quran: Surah 24:31

BSCOM/390

Dr. Bowers

• Stephanie Matteson

• http://salaf-us-saalih.com/category/by-topic/family/women/free-mixing-women/

http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=11&Topic=11662

• Where did he overcome the cultural differences
• Is there something he could have done differently
• What types of training can be provided to health care professionals to make sure these types of situations do not happen
• What would have happened had a female doctor not been available

YouTube:

• Cultural Belief
• Social Belief
• Sexuality
• Language Barrier

• Khaled , S. (2011, June 22). Relationship between Man and Woman in Islam [Video file]. Retrieved from YouTube website: http://ww.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=i4UM1a-noey

May 28th, 2018