The Relationship Between Culture and Healthcare Values in Ireland

 Irish Cultural Healthcare Practices

Ireland’s Healthcare Beliefs: A Fusion of Traditional Values and Modern Medicine  

Ireland fuses modern healthcare technology with traditional spiritual remedies, which affects how they prevent and treat illnesses (Heavey, 2019; Specia, 2021). Larry Samovar, author of Communication Between Cultures, asserted that “healthcare providers [should] understand that contemporary healthcare [is multi-faceted]” (Samovar, 2017, p.367). This idea framed healthcare practices as a conflict between modern science and cultural values (Samovar, 2017, p.367). For example, Ireland maintains a mixed public and private healthcare system that allows people to access medical care from doctors based on a “scientific [and] biomedical perspective” (Heavey, 2019; Samovar, 2017, p.369). However, the article titled “A Physical and Spiritual Approach to Healing,” argued that healthcare professionals should consider a “more holistic approach to understanding suffering” (“A Physical and Spiritual Approach to Healing,” 2011). Because of these considerations, some Irish citizens choose to seek alternative medicine, such as “benefits of the cure,” which combines herbal medicine with religious superstitions” (Specia, 2021). One question remains: how cultural values affect modern medicine (Heavey, 2019; Specia, 2021).

Irish Healer, Joe Gallagher

How Ireland Views Death and Its Implications

Ireland maintains traditional cultural views of death and dying that fuse themselves with modern funeral practices, which demonstrates the relationship between tradition and modern values and challenges provider-patient relationships (Samovar, 2017, p.374). Samovar asserted that some cultures actively encourage discussions about death and dying while others avoid it (Samovar, 2017, p.373). This spectrum suggests that healthcare providers should tailor their discussions about death to cultural customs (Samovar, 2017, p.373). For example, a survey done by J McCarthy states that many Irish citizens focus on “the quality of their dying [instead of] death,” which demonstrates that many in Ireland dislike discussing individual deaths (McCarthy, 2010; “How Irish People Want to Die” 2014). However, the article “How Irish People Want to Die,” claimed that while Irish citizens dislike talking about their deaths, they want to die “surrounded by loved ones [and in] familiar surroundings” (“How Irish People Want to Die,” 2014). This idea suggests that Irish citizens prefer to maintain traditional funeral practices, such as the “Irish Wake,” which requires family members to “guard the passage out for [someone’s] departing soul” (“Why the Irish Get Death Right”). This relationship between the “Irish Wake” and modern funeral practices raises one question: how does Ireland preserve cultural death traditions in an increasingly modern world? (Kilroy, 2000).

Irish Wake Funeral 

Irish Healthcare Intercultural Communication Problems and Solutions  

When non-governmental organizations examine Ireland’s healthcare practices, they should respect Ireland’s cultural approach to its health, which challenges and benefits intercultural communication (Samovar, 2017, p.371). Samovar argued that a person’s “cultural beliefs [affects their] healthcare and well-being” (Samovar, 2017, p.371). This idea implied that even though some people embrace western medicine, they view their health through a cultural lens (Samovar, 2017, p.371). For example, if my friend communicates with an Irish patient who practices alternative medicine, they may assume that all Irish citizens reject western medicine and promotes “superstitions” (Specia, 2021). This inaccurate assumption creates a cultural communication barrier between the healthcare employee and the patient (Specia, 2021; Samovar, 2017, p.371). My friend and other non-governmental employees can overcome these barriers if they practice cultural sensitivity and engage in “culture-specific training [that provides] in-depth knowledge and understanding” about a culture (Samovar, 2017, p.375). These intercultural communication techniques help non-Irish citizens respect Ireland’s healthcare system and avoid stereotyping its citizens (Specia, 2021; Samovar, 2017, p.371).

An Overview of Ireland's Healthcare System