The United States is one of the most diverse culturally diverse countries in the world. In addition to racial and ethnic diversity, more than 350 languages are spoken in the US. In fact, 1 in 5 people speak a language that is not English at home, according to the United States Census office.
But for some people, cultural diversity means that important health information can be lost in translation. Research shows that cultural barriers and language play an important role in erroneous information and lack of communication between medical care suppliers (HCP) and patients.
Cultural humility versus cultural competence
In the early 2000s, the Government began to require HCP to learn cultural competence to help improve the quality of care.
Cultural competence in medical care refers to the ability of a supplier to understand, appreciate and interact with people of all cultures. The idea is that the more HCP knows about different cultural origins, the better care will be.
In theory, cultural competence sounds good, but it has some defects. On the one hand, the concept suggests that there is a central data set that is applied to specific groups of people, which can lead to biases and stereotypes. Cultural competence also suggests that a person can become completely culturally competent. But that is not exactly the case.
«It quickly becomes evident that there is no way that it can be culturally competent because it will meet so many cultures and then variations within culture,» said Patricia Geraghty MSN, FNP-BC, WHNP, a practitioner nurse and member of the Health Advisory Council of Health Women (WHAC, who has been working on the bilingual health of women over 20 years.
The concept of cultural competence is not bad, said Geraghty, but there has been a change towards the practice of cultural humility in recent years.
Cultural humility is the continuous process of self -reflection and bias self -criticism by HCP, as well as the recognition that culture is always evolving, there is no end point.
«Intellectual humility is to recognize and possess the prejudices and limitations, and interpersonal humility is being open and prioritizing the well -being of others, which, as medical care providers, that is why we are in the room,» said Geraghty.
The importance of cultural humility
Cultural humility can help improve the relationship between HCP and the patient in different ways.
These may include:
- Greater communication
- Greater trust
- An approach to person -centered care
- Stereotypes and reduced bias by suppliers
«When someone who is part of a marginalized group feels that his supplier is listening to and understanding what is important for them, that does a long time,» Geraghty said.
Trust 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 foster a more equitable health system.
What is health in health?
The equity of health is basically the idea that everyone has the same opportunity to live their healthier as possible, regardless of social, economic and geographical history. The social determinants of health (where you are born, live, work, already play age), as well as biological determinants (for example, being a woman or a person assigned to birth) affects the potential of a healthy life.
Unfortunately, there are many factors that challenge health equity today. These may include:
- Discrimination
- Bad access to medical care
- Lack of educational opportunities
- Insecure environment
- Living in a low -income home
Structural, social and institutional disparities often worse through stereotypes and discrimination.
Cultural humility can help HCP take measures towards greater health equity through trust, listen to lived experiences and education to eliminate racism and bias.
Read: Social determinants of health, health and equity disparities >>
Language barriers can lead to bad results
Health disparities are a complex problem, but everyone deserves reliable health resources and services in a language they can understand. The lack of clear and reliable information can lead to serious health problems, such as errors with medications, erroneous diagnosis and care in care, among other concerns that could be avoided with proper communication.
Health insurance companies are a good place to start requesting a PC list that can speak their main language. Or request recommendations from your friends and family. If there is no list to choose from, do not worry. Most clinics and hospitals that accept federal money should provide free linguistic assistance, as a translation or document translation.
Another option: Download a translation application on a smartphone. One study They found patients and their HCPs who used online translation tools, such as Google translation, greater satisfaction for the visit by 92%.
Geraghty said the translation through a smartphone has traveled a long way, but it is always a good idea to be proactive and let the staff know their main language and cultural considerations before meeting with an HCP. The more information the better can help everyone involved to be prepared to concentrate on what is the most important: their health.
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