Doctor and Patient Culture Gap
A New York Times article brings our attention to the cultural disparity experienced between doctors and their patients. It is unfortunately still a novel realization, according to the medical writer.
However, medical training has begun to incorporate cultural lessons. “While researchers have begun to understand the profound extent to which a patient’s cultural background can influence health care, more and more medical schools and training programs have integrated what is termed ‘cultural competency’ into their curricula.”
It’s not always instantly recognizable, so what part does culture play in health care?
“[Culture] affects health disparities, communication and interactions in the doctor-patient relationship, the illness experience and health care outcomes,” says one professor of medicine. The way illness and treatment is interpreted varies between cultures, which is why it is so important for health care professionals to be aware of the way patients react. Patients, too, should consider that their doctors come from a distinct culture, which has prepared them to treat illnesses in a specific way.
How can this learning be distilled and disseminated? What else can the health care industry do to increase it’s cultural competence and drive positive results?
