Final answer:
The statement is true; understanding one's own beliefs and values is crucial when providing culturally competent care. Cultural relativism and self-awareness help in delivering respectful and personalized care while maintaining ethical standards and respecting patient autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that the first step the assistant should take when providing culturally competent care is to understand his own individual beliefs and value system is true. This self-awareness is critical in healthcare, as it is important for health professionals to recognize their own cultural lenses and biases. This understanding helps ensure that the care provided is respectful and appropriately adapted to the cultural needs of each patient. The concept of cultural relativism plays a significant role in this process, indicating the suspension of judgment about other cultures until a clear understanding of the meaning and significance of what those cultures do and believe is achieved.
Health professionals must also grapple with the challenge of educating patients about behaviours that may put them at risk for diseases such as HIV while respecting the patients' cultural and moral values. It is not ethical for health professionals to impose their own moral agenda on patients. Instead, they should strive to advocate for practical disease prevention and support patients in making informed decisions about their health, which may involve setting aside personal values to respect cultural differences.