Cultural Disparities In Health Care

Introduction: Cultures, social, ethnicity, English proficiency are factors that my significantly affect the quality of healthcare. Patient’s perspective, values, beliefs and behavior are highly influenced by the sociocultural background pf the patient (1-5). These factors can affect dealing with patient’s symptoms, seeking care, pain toleration, care adherence, preventive measure, and health care expectations.

In doing so, he pays particularly close attention to black patients and their relations with health care policies and practices. Smedly maintains that blacks are not only the victims of, inpatient and outpatient treatment, racial policies, and other services but also the victims of its consequences. He argues that many health care administrators are agents to a system of inequality that support provider and administrator biases, geographical inequalities, and racial stereotypes (Smedly 2012).

This essay reviews key concepts of culture and diversity in the context of their role in causing and/or making worse disparities in health programs.

Although the United States is a leader in healthcare innovation and spends more money on health care than any other industrialized nation, not all people in the United State benefit equally from this progress as a health care disparity exists between racial and ethnic minorities and white Americans. Health care disparity is defined as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage…adversely affecting groups of people who have systematically experienced greater social and/or economic obstacles to health and/or clean environment based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion” (National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities [NPAEHD], 2011, p. 3). Overwhelming evidence shows that racial and ethnic minorities receive inferior quality health care compared to white Americans, and multiple factors contribute to these disparities, including geography, lack of access to adequate health coverage, communication difficulties between patients and providers, cultural barriers, and lack of access to providers (American College of Physicians,

Though it has been apparent that people of color have been treated as a subclass within the medical field for centuries; as was brought to light in The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the recognition of forced hysterectomies and sterilizations of African American women in the 20th century and, to “The Negro Project” which worked to reduce the African American population through eugenics (Feagin & Bennefield, 2014). With even these three examples it is clear that the medical field has played a large role in creating both psychological and physical disadvantages and trauma for minority groups in America. Yet, it seems to be a subject that many professionals refuse to address. A meta-analysis conducted by Mayberry, Mili and Ofili found that,

When it comes to healthcare racial disparities continue to be an ongoing issue. In fact racial disparities have been a topic of discussion since desegregation. The US Department of Health and Human Services, in 1984 published a report that called attention to the healthcare disparities. The report was called Heath, United States 1983(Dougher, 2015). Within the context of the report there lies a passage that describes the major disparities that are within the burden of illness and death that is experienced by African Americans and other minorities, “despite significant progress in the overall health of the nation” (Dougher, 2015). It was evident that there was a serious lack of health care minorities.

There are vulnerable groups that have significant problems in the health care system, due to this population being made vulnerable because of their financial circumstances or place of residence, health, age, race, mental or physical state. Access to health care across different populations are the main reason for current disparities in the United States health care system. Moreover, with a large amount attention being given to racial disparities in health, the meaning of race has come under increased scientific examination. (Sondik, 1997) Consequently, race remains to be one of the most politically charged topics in American life, because it's linked to sociocultural element often has led to classifications that have been ambiguous and improperly

While today’s “patients [have] one thing going for them that Henrietta didn't: They [are] alive. And the dead have no right to privacy-even if part of them is still alive,” (Skloot 211) history’s ethical debate regarding medical racism remains a social issue. When patients experience racism, they may be unable to defend themselves if they are incapacitated by medical professionals. Due to patient negligence and bias, the health care provider’s poor treatment breaks the trust of minorities. As shown in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and treatment of Henrietta Lacks, doctors and researchers have failed to inform the participants correctly. Both occurrences highlight medical racism because of the historical maltreatment of minority groups. Now, many

The gap within multicultural health care has thus far led to racism, stereotyping, and discrimination. Furthermore, healthcare leaders have not identified what intervention is appropriate to close the gap on cultural competence. Wilson, Sin, & Conlon, (2010, p. 361) states, “it is important to recognize that certain organizational factors may act as constraints on the ability of individuals to engage.” However, administrators and other leaders that are involved with healthcare disparities have created multiple platforms to access care but have not leveraged the cultural differences.

The failure to understand cultural differences is the root cause of health disparities in America. Our history of racial and economic injustice has left people marginalized, disadvantaged, and disproportionately impoverished. As the only industrialized country without universal healthcare, we are spending twice as much on healthcare as other countries. Importance of the public coming to terms with inequalities leads to demanding change for every citizen to be healthy in order to live their best life.

There are many disparities in healthcare access, especially when it comes to clients living at or below the poverty level. Mauer and Smith (2013) suggested that community/public health nurses should know the concerns of the clients regarding accessibility or convenience, availability, and acceptability of healthcare services. Many factors such as economic status, educational levels, and employment steer health seeking behaviors and influence how the community/public health nurse can help.

It is significant for the medical provider to note that each individuals have their own cultural preferences of interactions and roles. The Native People have their own social customs; however some of these are typecasts and might not be as shared and many of the medical provider are familiar with those of their persons. Demonstrate great respect to the elderly. In several cases the elders are not familiarized to the new healthcare facilities, the new environments and noises, the caregivers and types treatment; for various of them it might be their first visit to a medical facility, it is significant to ease their awareness and explicate procedures thoroughly. The Silence is respected and is not certainly a negative behavior. Occasionally the

The term culture has a very broad definition that encompasses the values, beliefs, customs, religions, behaviors, traditions and the collective attitudes of a group of people (Williamson & Harrison, 2010). In 1971, Canada was one of the first countries in the world to adopt multiculturalism as a national policy (Government of Canada, 2012). Since then, Canadians have prided themselves on being accepting of cultural diversity and recognizing equal rights for all citizens, regardless of country of origin (Government of Canada, 2012). However, cultural diversity presents challenges for the health care system as people of various cultures have different expectations and requirements of healthcare (De Miao & Kemp, 2010). This is not an issue that is unique to Canada, but one that extends to all countries which encourage multiculturalism. Indeed it has been found that immigrants often experience declining health and dissatisfactory medical care compared to the native population due to issues in language, accessibility, social support, and familiarity with the health care system (Pollock, Newbold, Lafrenière & Edge, 2012; De Miao & Kemp, 2010). Therefore, there is an increased emphasis for nurses and other health care professionals to develop cultural competence. As I will show in this paper, working in a culturally diverse society requires nurses to adapt their caring strategies to cater to the cultural needs of their patients. I will then expand on how my own personal experiences

The author’s connection to the article “Racial Bias in Medicine Leads to Worse Care for Minorities” is he personally witness these encounters. Schroder is very passionate covering an array of health-related issues from cancer to depression and prevention to overtreatment. Michael O. Schroeder intention for the text is present and discuss the occurrence of racial inequality among the health system. Throughout the article, displays the issue with personal stories, statically evidence and reputable researchers. The objective of the text is to target medical providers and society regarding this unspoken issue to reconsider the prejudice of racism. The author’s topic to the issue is the ethnic bias from Dr. Ron Wyatt perspective and treatment provided

Cultural differences, language barriers, values, customs, beliefs of either the health care provider or the population may prevent an individual from getting the full benefits of the health care services. For instance, a patient may not get treated as well by a health care provider because of their issues. This includes not only a difference in treatment, but how they act towards the patient. A rehabilitation center may offer someone else a bed. When people are treated with respect, they have an increase in motivation. More motivation results in more progress. If there is a language barrier, having the client express their concerns or wants may be difficult. A way cultural differences may be seen is wanting a male occupational therapist. Based on their cultural they will refuse treatment from a female health care provider. Knowing the clients culture before you start treatment will result in the individual receiving the full benefits of health care.