Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Health Care

Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Health Care

According to our text, the strength and greatness of America lies in the diversity of its people and their cultures (McKenzie F. James, 2008). However, in order for health professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations, cultural and linguistic competence must first be understood. Understanding historical factors that impact the health of minority populations and cultural differences within minority groups are only a couple of important factors to consider when planning and implementing effective community health programs and services. As public health educators it is vitally important to understand culturally acceptable behaviors while serving the needs of individuals and promoting community health.

Cultural and linguistic competence refers to a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies. 'Culture' refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. 'Competence' implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities (OMH US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, 2005).

While the goals of improved health outcomes; efficiency, and satisfaction remain the same for all patients, we must consider that for minority patients the need for culturally appropriate services must also be in place in order to meet these goals. This could create a tough task for any undertaking when considering the diverse cultures in the United States. The main challenge would be to educate all our health providers. As we all know change can be a challenge for any organization especially ones that provide health services to an exclusive clientele.

With the shift of our nation’s racial and ethnic demographics - serving the needs of our minority population is a topic of concern among many health care providers, patients, educators, and accreditation and credentialing agencies (McKenzie F. James, 2008). A news article titled, “Non-Hispanic whites will become a minority in the United States by 2050” (Garcia, 2008) summarized data from a research study by the Pew Research Center which concluded that Non-Hispanic whites would account for 47 percent of the total in 2050. The data from this news article not only supports the reason why it is ever so important for health care professionals to be culturally and linguistically competent but it also requires that policy makers create change to the current health care policies regarding cultural and linguistic competence.

            In a society as culturally diverse as the United States, community health educators need to be able to communicate with different communities and understand how culture influences health behaviors (Loustaunau, 2000). For example, American Indians may view a traditional healer as curing the individual, because the healer focuses on the whole person; western physicians may be seen as useful only for relieving symptoms, since they focus on specific problems. Another example is how American Indian individuals are reluctant to dwell on death or bad things, which may encourage them to come true; instead, there is pragmatic acceptance of "what is" while western medicine encourages the emphasis on preparation for problems by taking preventive steps (Michielutte R., 1994).

            Health care providers and educators must take steps towards becoming more culturally sensitive and linguistically competent if they are to remain effect during the times of change. By understanding health care policies and completing training courses that introduce issues of cultural and linguistic competence they are becoming more effective and better prepared to meet the challenges of one of the many issues surrounding health care in the United States.

In conclusion, culture is a vital factor in how community health professionals deliver services and how community members respond to community health programs and preventative interventions (McKenzie F. James, 2008). By creating a diverse health care workforce knowledgeable of individual cultural beliefs, values and language we are creating a workforce better prepared to meet the needs of our nation’s diverse population. Finally, we should all appreciate and recognize our own cultural characteristics that strengthen the fabric of who we are as a proud human race.

 

Works Cited

OMH US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. (2005, October 19). Retrieved March 25, 2013, from US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health Website: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=11

Garcia, A. (2008, February 12). Reuters. Retrieved March 25, 2013, from Reuters Web site: http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/12/us-usa-population-immigration-idUSN1110177520080212

Jordan J. Cohen, B. A. (2002). The Case For Diversity In The Health Care Workforce. Health Affairs, 3-14.

Loustaunau, M. (2000). Becoming Culturally Sensative: Preparing for Service as a Health Educator in a Multicultural World. In S. Smith, Community Health Prospectives (pp. 99-37). Madison: Coursewise.

McKenzie F. James, P. R. (2008). An Introduction to Community Health. Sudbury: Jones and Barlett Publishers, LLC.

Michielutte R., S. P. (1994). Cultural Issues in the Development of Cancer Control Programs for American Indian Populations. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 8-10.