The conversation about healthcare quality in America has been dominated by cultural competence. The most recent census data shows that the country is experiencing rapid population growth. This means that there are rapidly changing healthcare systems, beliefs, language barriers and healthcare needs.
What does this mean in practice? We will discuss the importance of cultural competence and healthcare, and how medical schools prepare future doctors to become effective providers for the largest multiracial and diverse population the US has ever seen.
What is cultural competence?
Dr. Herry focuses on cultural humility when she thinks of cultural competence in healthcare. This, she explains, encapsulates an awareness that your patient is multidimensional–that they come with different identities, including their gender, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status, education level, sexual orientation, and more.
Dr. Herry says that it is crucial to be open to exploring and understanding how these identities affect healthcare. “Embracing cultural humility is about the physician being aware of their biases and understanding how they impact their care. It also means that they are open to learning from their patients.”
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), notes that healthcare can be viewed through both a cultural and linguistic lens for patients and providers. The cultural affiliations of a person can have a significant impact on everything, from how they seek treatment to how they describe their symptoms to whether or not they follow the care recommendations.
A culturally competent healthcare system can provide care for patients with different values, beliefs, or behaviors. It is necessary to have policies and attitudes that encourage cross-cultural interaction. Here are some examples from the AHRQ to show how this could look in practice.
- Language assistance – This could include hiring bilingual clinicians or staff members and employing qualified interpreters of American Sign Language and foreign languages.
- Cultural brokers These individuals are hired to act as mediators between traditional healthcare beliefs and US healthcare systems. Community health workers, interpreters and patient navigators could fill this role.
- Cultural competence training. Training and resource sessions are available with the aim of improving the cultural awareness, knowledge and skills of staff and clinicians.
The American Academy of Family Physicians explains that a culturally competent healthcare system recognizes that language and culture are not barriers to proper care. These elements can instead be used to improve outcomes.
What is the importance of cultural competence in healthcare?
Dr. Kandace LaMonica is a family medicine specialist and chief resident in equity and diversity at Southwest Illinois University. “We’ve seen disparities in healthcare throughout history,” she says. The 2018 SGU alumna notes that this has been highlighted even further by the COVID-19 pandemic, with ethnic minorities being disproportionately affected.
Dr. LaMonica says that cultural competence allows practitioners to deliver quality care regardless of the patient’s culture background. Providers must acknowledge these differences and understand how they may impact the patient’s healthcare.
Cultural incompetence could lead to serious issues regarding patient safety. A study showed that patients with limited English proficiency were less likely to have adverse outcomes than English-proficient ones. Another study found that patients from ethnic minorities were more likely to express dissatisfaction about their healthcare experience and interactions with doctors, which can lead to delays in care and lower adherence to treatment.
Inadequate follow-up can lead to missed screenings, diagnostic errors, missed screenings, medication reactions, and other problems. Respect and cultural competency are essential components in reducing healthcare disparities. They help improve access to high-quality healthcare that is responsive for the needs of diverse patients.