Working across cultures: a model for practice in developing countries

The aim of this study was to identify the influence that cultural values have on the practice of nurses working in developing countries in primary health care. This was achieved through the exploration of their common experiences of practice using an ethnographic approach with ethnosemantic analysis as the research tool. Western expatriate nurses represent a dominant Western culture and so carry with them the values and beliefs of the West into their practice, thus potentially creating greater dependence rather than supporting the primary health care principles exhorted through Alma Ata of self reliance and community participation. The study showed that the effect is determined by the values that influence practice. These values are either modified by the expatriate nurses to create an enabling environment or there is a failure to modify their values so promoting dependence through a ‘helping’ or ‘aid giving’ approach.