The capacity to communicate effectively with persons from diverse cultures is referred to as cultural competency (Benson, 2014). This translates to healthcare as knowing the patient’s cultural background in order to treat them with respect and effectiveness.
The United States is a cultural melting pot, with the largest and fastest-growing group being Hispanics, followed by Blacks, Asians, American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Alaskans, and other Pacific Islanders. Healthcare professionals must be aware of the specific health problems and beliefs of each of these groups in order to deliver the right care (Prasad et al., 2016).
Cultural competency in healthcare promotes effective care, which benefits the patient and yields favorable results (Lamiani, 2008). Additionally, it guarantees compassionate treatment that takes patients’ expressed needs, values, and preferences into account.
In order for healthcare workers to function well in cross-cultural settings, they must also exhibit congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies. This is known as cultural competency. It presents a challenge to healthcare professionals to learn about and incorporate the beliefs of other cultures into their treatment methods, rather than adopting an egocentric viewpoint where one’s own culture is seen as superior.
Prasad, S. J., Nair, P., Gadhvi, K., Barai, I., Danish, H. S., & Philip, A. B. (2016, January 1). Cultural humility: treating the patient, not the illness. Medical Education Online, 21(1), 30908. https://doi.org/10.3402/meo.v21.30908
Lamiani, G. (2008, November). Cultural competency in healthcare: Learning across boundaries. Patient Education and Counseling, 73(2), 396–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.07.048
Benson, B. (2014, March). Competency 1. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and the public, as appropriate, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Academic Pediatrics, 14(2), S55–S56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2013.11.040
Struggling with online classes or exams? Get expert help to ace your coursework, assignments, and tests stress-free!