Decision Making in Health Related Behaviors

Decision-making involves a complex set of variables including cues and barriers to action that can trigger specific patterns of behavior. With respect to health and health care, the influences of gender, culture and trust may affect perceived health status and decision making preferences. In contemporary nursing practice, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on cultural competency as means of elimi-nating potential barriers to care. Cultural competency has become a prominent theme in nursing as a result. This study explores the influence of culture as well as that of gender in relation to decision-making preferences in health related behaviors. Specifically this study focuses on differences between Greek women and American women of Greek descent in the community of Tarpon Springs, Florida.