Cultural Barriers in Healthcare
In a diverse and multicultural world, healthcare providers face numerous challenges when delivering care to patients from different cultural backgrounds. Cultural barriers in healthcare refer to the obstacles that arise due to differences in language, beliefs, values, customs, and communication styles between healthcare providers and patients. These barriers can significantly impact the quality and effectiveness of healthcare, leading to disparities in access, treatment outcomes, and patient satisfaction.
Language barriers present a significant challenge in healthcare settings. When patients and healthcare providers do not share a common language, it hampers effective communication, leading to misunderstandings, errors in diagnosis, and compromised patient safety. A study by Shamsi et al. shows that “language barriers in healthcare lead to miscommunication between the medical professional and patient, reducing both parties’ satisfaction and decreasing the quality of healthcare delivery and patient safety”. Limited proficiency in the dominant language can impede patients' ability to express their symptoms, concerns, or understand medical instructions. Healthcare providers must employ professional interpreters or translation services to bridge this gap and ensure accurate information exchange.
Cultural barriers can also be found in the large diversity of patients a hospital treats. Cultural diversity brings a wide range of beliefs, values, and healthcare practices into the medical setting. These differences can influence patients' perceptions of illness, treatment preferences, and adherence to medical advice. For instance, certain cultural groups may prioritize traditional healing methods, spiritual practices, or alternative therapies alongside conventional medicine. Healthcare providers must exhibit cultural sensitivity and respect patients' beliefs while offering evidence-based care. Building trust and open dialogue can help align patients' cultural values with the best possible healthcare outcomes. Cultural diversity is also important among employees. The University of St. Augustine for Health and Sciences writes that cultural diversity in the workforce “has a positive impact not only on the organization itself but also on the individual patients and wider communities.” This is imperative, as “for every 100 men who are promoted to managerial positions, only 85 women are promoted. This gap is even larger for Black women and Latinas, of which only 58 and 71, respectively, are promoted for every 100 men.”
Lastly, cultural barriers to healthcare are often intertwined with socioeconomic factors. Marginalized communities may face disparities in access to healthcare resources, insurance coverage, transportation, and financial constraints. A study by Braveman et al. furthers this, explaining that “those with the lowest income and who were least educated were consistently least healthy, but for most indicators, even groups with intermediate income and education levels were less healthy than the wealthiest and most educated”. Healthcare systems should strive to address these social determinants of health by providing culturally competent care that is accessible, affordable, and geographically available. Overall, collaboration with community organizations, cultural competency training for healthcare providers, and policy changes can contribute to reducing healthcare disparities.
All in all, cultural barriers in healthcare are complex and multifaceted, but they can be overcome through the development of cultural competence among healthcare providers. Culturally competent care acknowledges and respects patients' diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and values, fostering effective communication, trust, and mutual understanding. By embracing cultural diversity and implementing strategies to address cultural barriers, healthcare systems can deliver equitable, patient-centered care that meets the needs of individuals from all cultural backgrounds. A culturally competent healthcare system not only improves health outcomes but also promotes social inclusion and a more cohesive society.
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Mozafaripour, Sara. “Cultural Diversity in Healthcare | USAHS.” University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Mar. 2021, www.usa.edu/blog/diversity-in-healthcare/. Accessed 16 June 2023.
Braveman, Paula, et al. Socioeconomic Disparities in Health in the United States: What the Patterns Tell Us. Vol. 100, no. S1, 1 Apr. 2010, pp. S186–S196, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2837459/, https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2009.166082. Accessed 16 June 2023.
Hilal Al Shamsi, et al. Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare: A Systematic Review. Vol. 35, no. 2, 15 Mar. 2020, pp. e122–e122, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7201401/, https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2020.40. Accessed 16 June 2023.
Swihart, Diana L, et al. “Cultural Religious Competence in Clinical Practice.” Nih.gov, StatPearls Publishing, 14 Nov. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493216/. Accessed 16 June 2023.
Putsch, Robert W, and Marlie Joyce. “Dealing with Patients from Other Cultures.” Nih.gov, Butterworths, 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK340/. Accessed 16 June 2023.
