Cultural Differences In Healthcare

It is extremely important for healthcare providers to become culturally aware so they are able to provide high quality care to their patients. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to this. When a healthcare providers take cultural and ethnic influences into account, they are able to somewhat understand where the patient is coming from. This brings many advantages that both the healthcare provider and patient can reap. With this background comes a better understanding of the patient's decisions, fears, and their concerns/hopes regarding treatment modalities. In turn, better communication between the patient and healthcare team is facilitated. In addition, the medical team is better able to understand motives behind an individual's
stand on certain topics. As a result, there is a better capacity for the healthcare provider to respect the individual and their choices. The healthcare provider and patient are both self-aware and do not allow their differences to interfere with their healthcare. With cultural competency, there may also be disadvantages. A disadvantage may be a result of the healthcare provider’s personal beliefs. A healthcare provider’s personal beliefs may not align with a patient’s beliefs and their care may be affected. In addition, healthcare providers may develop biases towards certain cultures and may subconsciously treat them differently. Also, they may eventually develop assumptions in terms of their beliefs based on a patient’s ethnic or cultural background. Along with a better understanding on the health care provider’s part, fear may develop. This would ultimately prevent their total support of a patient’s decisions and may effect their view of the patient and their families.