Massachusetts Personal Injury Library

Teaching Culturally Sensitive Medicine

Massachusetts attorney Thomas M. Kiley concentrates on legal issues surrounding children’s health. A recent article in the Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine recommends that physicians practice culturally sensitive care for patients across all medical specialties.

The article cites the case of an undocumented immigrant from Central America who died of leukemia as an example where the influence of culture caused a problem with the attending physician, chaplain, medical student, and social worker, and the patient and her partner.

The issues with this case were distance from family, the fear of deportation, and limited health understanding became barriers between the health team and the family. The authors talk about the influence of culture and religion among Latino families on patient care. They note that up to 92% of Latinos consider themselves religious. The authors highly recommend professional interpreters when the medical team is communicating with the patient and the family. The doctors should talk to the interpreters about understanding confidentiality, and what kind of terminology to use when communicating health issues.

According to the article, the authors suggest using phrases such as:

* “Before we go in the room, I want to clarify my meeting communication style and goals.”
* “I depend on you not only to interpret the words but also to be aware of the context for the conversation.”
* “If the patient [or I] says something you don't know how to interpret, please let me know.”
* “Do you have any concerns about the family's understanding?”

Recommended phrases to use with patients include:

* “I want to introduce you to the medical interpreter. We are using an interpreter because the topics we are discussing are important, and we need to communicate clearly with one another.”
* “I want to reassure you that neither the interpreter nor I will report on your status to government immigration authorities.”

The article provides concrete suggestions for how to communicate health information to Latino patients and their families. By providing actual phrases to use, those physicians who have not used interpreters before or who have trouble communicating with Latino patients will have useful tools that will show that they are culturally sensitive to and respectful of those cultural traditions and feelings.

The Society of Family Medicine has developed curriculum guidelines for teaching culturally sensitive medicine techniques to residents. By emphasizing an understanding of the deeper understanding of the sociocultural background of patients, their families, and the environments in which they live, and the cultural context they come from, family physicians will be able to provide better quality care. The courses taught also teach residents how to become aware of how their own cultural values, assumptions, and beliefs influence them and the contexts in which they work and live.

The guidelines were developed after conducting a national survey of family practice residency programs that showed there were few programs about the connection between culture and health. The format follows curricular guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians. The purpose of the guidelines is to facilitate a better understanding of various cultural methods for prevention, curing, healing, and caring of patients from a variety of cultural backgrounds.