Featured Medical education topic: Cultural Competency: Cultural Sensitivity & Healthcare Decision Making

One recent analysis has estimated that by 2050, nearly half of the nation’s population will be from cultures other than White/non-Hispanic, increasing medical services to patients of diverse cultures or languages. Cultural and language differences can contribute to misunderstanding, lack of compliance, or other factors negatively influencing clinical situations. Healthcare professionals must be able to navigate and provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including personalizing healthcare delivery to meet patients’ social, cultural, and linguistic needs. Correct language and phrases can help providers navigate the difficult conversations they have with patients and family members of diverse cultures or languages. 

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss how physicians and patients from diverse cultural backgrounds can have different standards for judging a successful treatment 
• Compare different communication methods used by physicians and patients from culturally diverse backgrounds, including African Americans, Korean Americans & Mexican Americans 
• Identify reasons why patients seek medical treatment from physicians of their same race/ethnic background 
• Recognize the importance of addressing the cultural and ethnic background of patients when making care decisions, especially at end-of-life 
• Identify current instances of health care disparities for minority persons
• Describe methods to combat health care disparities for minority persons in our facilities 

CLICK HERE to download a PDF file featuring information gaps, potential needs, and references for this topic.

If your medical staff needs an update on cultural competency in healthcare, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

References:

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/913487?form=fpf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6571328/