Transcultural Nursing: Prepared By: Maria Angelica T. Fernandez, BSN-RN

TRANSCULTURAL
NURSING
Prepared by:
Maria Angelica T. Fernandez, BSN-RN
THAILAND
MAP OF THAILAND
near the entrance to wat

phra kaew, the temple of
the emerald buddha in
Bangkok
Wat- pho
Flag of Thailand
THAI NATIONAL ANTHEM - -PHLENG

CHAT THAI- (TH-EN)
THAI CULTURE AND CUSTOMS,

PHUKET CULTURE AND CUSTOMS
THAILAND
THAILAND- Facts and Statistics

Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma

Capital:Bangkok
Climate:tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to
September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);

southern isthmus always hot and humid
Population:64,865,523
Ethnic Make-up:Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religions:Buddhism95%, Muslim 3.8%,Christianity0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%,
other 0.6% (1991)
Government:constitutional monarchy
Facts
and
Statistics
Languages
in Thailand
The Thai language is comprised of 44 consonants, 32
vowels and five tones in Thai pronunciation, along with
a script that has Indian origins. The Thai language,
belonging to the Tai family, is the main language in
Thailand although there are several regional dialects as
well. Other languages spoken in Thailand are Chinese,
Lao, Malay and Mon-Khmer, while English use is
becoming more prevalent in government and
commerce. English is also being taught as a second
language in secondary school and universities, which
enables the English speaking visitor in Thailand to have
little trouble conversing.
Thai Society and Culture

The Wai
The wai is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of protocol.
Raising both hands, palms joined with the fingers pointing upwards as if in
prayer, lightly touching the body somewhere between the chest and the
forehead, is the standard form.
The wai is both a sign of respect as well as a greeting. Respect and courtesy
are demonstrated by the height at which the hands are held and how low the
head comes down to meet the thumbs of both hands.
The wai may be made while sitting, walking, or standing.
The person who is junior in age or status is the first one to offer the wai.
The senior person returns the wai, generally with their hands raised to
somewhere around their chest.
If a junior person is standing and wants to wai a senior person who is seated,
the junior person will stoop or bow their head while making the wai.
If there is a great social distance between two people, the wai will not be
returned.
Buddhism in Thailand
Thailand is a stronghold of Buddhism.
Buddhists believe that life does not begin with birth and end with
death, but rather that every person has several lives based upon
the lessons of life not yet learned and acts committed (karma) in
previous lives.
Buddhists believe that selfishness and craving result in suffering
and that compassion and love bring happiness and well-being.
The true path to peace is to eliminate all desire, a condition which
Buddhists define as 'nirvana', an indescribable state free of
desire, suffering, or further rebirth, in which a person simply is,
and is completely at one with his surroundings.
Buddhism is practised in Thailand by over 90% of the population.
Hierarchical Society
Thais respect hierarchical relationships.
Social relationships are defined as one person being superior to
the other.
Parents are superior to their children, teachers to their students,
and bosses to their subordinates.
When Thais meet a stranger, they will immediately try to place
you within a hierarchy so they know how you should be
treated.
This is often done by asking what might be seen as very
personal questions in other cultures.
Status can be determined by clothing and general appearance,
age, job, education, family name, and social connections.
Thai Family Values

The family is the cornerstone of Thai society.
Family life is often more closely knit than in
western cultures.
The Thai family is a form of hierarchy with the
parents at the top.
Children are taught to honour their parents.
Thai Demeanour
Thais place great emphasis and value on outward forms of courtesy
such as politeness, respect, genial demeanour and self-control in order

to maintain harmonious relations.
Many of their rules of etiquette are by-products of the Buddhist
religion.
It is a non-confrontational society, in which public dispute or criticism
is to be avoided at all costs.
To be openly angry with someone might attract the wrath of the
spirits, which in turn could cause violence and tragedy.
Openly criticizing a person is a form of violence as it hurts the person
and is viewed as a conscious attempt to offend the person being
rebuked
Loss of face is a disgrace to a Thai so they try to avoid confrontations
and look for compromises in difficult situations.
If two parties disagree, one will need to have an outlet to retreat
without losing face.
Etiquette & Customs in Thailand
Meeting Etiquette
The wai (as mentioned above) is the traditional form of
greeting, given by the person of lower status to the person

of higher status.
Thais generally use first rather than surnames, with the
honorific title Khun before the name. Khun is an all- purpose
form of address that is appropriate for both men and women
In general, wait for your host and hostess to introduce you
to the other guests. This allows everyone to understand
your status relative to their own, and thus know who
performs the wai and how low the head should be bowed.
Gift Giving Etiquette
If invited to a Thai's home, a gift is not expected, although it will
be appreciated.
Gifts should be wrapped attractively, since appearance matters.
Bows and ribbons add to the sense of festivity.
Appropriate gifts are flowers, good quality chocolates or fruit.
Do not give marigolds or carnations, as they are associated with
funerals.
Try to avoid wrapping a gift in green, black or blue as these are
used at funerals and in mourning.
Gold and yellow are considered royal colours, so they make good
wrapping paper.
Only use red wrapping paper if giving a gift to a Chinese Thai.
Gifts are not opened when received.
Money is the usual gift for weddings and ordination parties.
Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a Thai's house:
Arrive close to the appointed time, although being a few
minutes late will not cause offence.

Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove
yours before entering the house.
Ask another guest to confirm the dress code.
Step over the threshold rather than on it. This is an old
custom that may be dying out with younger Thais, but
erring on the side of conservatism is always a good idea.
Table manners
A fork and spoon are the usual eating utensils. However, noodles are
often eaten with chopsticks.

The spoon is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. The fork is
used to guide food on to the spoon. Sticky rice, a northern Thai
delicacy, is often eaten with the fingers of the right hand.
Most meals are served as buffets or with serving platters in the
centre of the table family- style.
You may begin eating as soon as you are served.
Leave a little food on your plate after you have eaten to show that
you are full. Finishing everything indicates that you are still hungry.
Never leave rice on your plate as it is considered wasteful. The words
for food and rice are the same. Rice has an almost mystical
significance in addition to its humdrum 'daily bread' function.
Never take the last bite from the serving bowl.
Wait to be asked before taking a second helping.
Do not lick your fingers.
Alternative Practices
Internal Medicine- Primarily the use of herbs and
diet to promote health

External Medicine- All therapies applied to the
external body including but not limited to:
Bone setting (indigenouschiropractics)
Thaicupping
Thai scraping (a practice similar to ChineseGua
Sha)
Thai massage
External application of herbs through balms,
liniments, compresses and poultices
Alternative Practices
Spirit Medicine- Use of amulets,
incantations, sak yan tattooing and

shamanistic involvement with spirits for the
purpose of healing
According to TTM, human illness

can be caused by the following
factors:
1. Supernatural power, e.g., ancestors soul, powerful spirit of the forest,
evil spirits,punishment from a heavenly spirit of those who misbehave.
2. Power of Nature, e.g., imbalance in the four elements of the body
(earth, water, wind and fire), imbalanceof heat and cold, and imbalance
of the bodys equilibrium.
3. Power of the universe, e.g., positive and negative influences from the
sun, themoon and the stars on human health.
4. Kimijati, which may be considered the equivalent of microorganisms
orparasites in modern medicine.
Aside from this,inappropriate behaviors can be the cause of ailments:
-Inappropriate eating habits, e.g., eating too much or too little,
eatingfood that has gone bad, or unfamiliar food, or food that is not
suitablefor ones own dominant element or diseases.
-Imbalanced postures while sitting, standing, walking, or sleeping
canlead to disequilibrium of the body structure and needless worsening
ofhealth.
-Exposure to extreme weather or polluted air.
-Being deprived of food, water or sleep.-Delayed urination or defecation.
-Overwork, over-exercise, or excessive sexual activity.
END

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TRANSCULTURAL

near the entrance to wat

THAI NATIONAL ANTHEM - -PHLENG

THAI CULTURE AND CUSTOMS,

THAILAND- Facts and Statistics

Thailand, southeast of Burma

September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);

Ethnic Make-up:Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Thai Society and Culture

Thai Family Values

such as politeness, respect, genial demeanour and self-control in order

Etiquette & Customs in Thailand

The wai (as mentioned above) is the traditional form of

greeting, given by the person of lower status to the person

Gift Giving Etiquette

If invited to a Thai's home, a gift is not expected, although it will

Arrive close to the appointed time, although being a few

minutes late will not cause offence.

often eaten with chopsticks.

diet to promote health

incantations, sak yan tattooing and

According to TTM, human illness

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