America is one of the most culturally different countries in the world. In addition to racial and ethnic diversity, more than 350 languages speak to the US in fact, 1 in 5 people speak a language except English at home, according to the US inventory office.
But for some people, cultural diversity means important health information to be lost in translation. Research shows that cultural obstacles and language play an important role in misinformation and poor communication between HCPs and patients.
Cultural humility over cultural capacity
In the early 2000s, the government began to require HCPs to learn cultural ability to help improve the quality of care.
The cultural capacity in health care refers to the provider’s ability to understand, appreciate and deal with people throughout culture. The idea is that the more HCPs know about a different cultural background, the better the care will be.
Theoretically, cultural ability sounds good, but it has some imperfections. For one, the concept suggests that there is a basic set of data that applies to specific groups of people, which can lead to prejudice and stereotypes. Cultural capacity also suggests that a person can become fully culturally capable. But that is not exactly the case.
“It quickly becomes obvious that there is no way to be culturally capable of dealing with so many cultures and then variations in culture,” said Patricia Geraghty MSN, FNP-BC, WHNP, nurse and member of the Women’s Health Council.
The concept of cultural capacity is not bad, Geraghty noted, but there has been a shift to the practice of cultural humility in recent years.
Cultural humility is the ongoing process of self-relocation and self-critical prejudice by HCPs, as well as the recognition that culture is always evolving-there is no final point.
“Spiritual humility recognizes and possesses its own prejudices and restrictions, and interpersonal humility is open and gives priority to the well -being of others, who, as health care providers, are in the room,” Geraghty said.
The importance of cultural humility
Cultural humility can help enhance the relationship between HCP and the patient in different ways.
These may include:
- Increased communication
- Increased trust
- The focus on personal care
- Reduced stereotypes and prejudice by providers
“When someone who is part of a marginalized group feels that his provider is listening to and understands what is important to them – this is doing a lot,” Geraghty said.
Confidence can help people feel safer and more open and lead to better health results. In addition to the most personalized and effective care, cultural humility can help promote a more fair healthcare system.
What is Equity Health?
Equality of health is basically the idea that everyone has the same opportunity to live their healthier life, regardless of the social, economic, geographical background. The social decisive factors of health (where they are born, live, work, play and age), as well as biological decisive factors (eg is a woman or a person assigned to birth) affect the possibility of a healthy life.
Unfortunately, there are many factors that question health today. These may include:
- Discrimination
- Poor access to health care
- Lack of educational opportunities
- Unsafe environment
- Living in a low -income household
Structural, social and institutional inequalities often worsen from stereotypes and discrimination.
Cultural humility can help HCPS take steps for greater equality of health through confidence, listening to experiences and training to eliminate racism and prejudice.
Read: social decisive agents of health, health inequalities and health equality >>
Linguistic obstacles can lead to bad results
Health inequalities are a complex problem, but they all deserve reliable resources and health services in a language they can understand. Lack of clear and reliable information can lead to serious health problems, such as errors with medication, incorrect diagnosis and delays in care, including concerns that could be avoided by proper communication.
Health Insurance Companies are a good place to start asking for a HCP list that can speak your main language. Or ask friends and family for recommendations. If there is no list to choose – do not sweat. Most clinics and hospitals accepting federal money are required to provide free language assistance, such as translator or translation of documents.
Another option: Download a translation app on a smartphone. A study They found patients and HCPs who used internet translation tools, such as Google Translate, increased 92%visit satisfaction.
Geraghty said that translation via smartphone has gone a long way, but it is always a good idea to be active and inform the staff to know your main language and cultural estimates before you come across an HCP. The more information, the better, as it can help all stakeholders ready to focus on what is most important – your health.
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