Cross-cultural communication: tools for working with families and children

Question 1

What is cultural competence?

Answer 1

• Providing effective health care across diverse cultures by working collaboratively and communicating effectively
• Physicians who are aware of their patients’ cultural background, along with values are able to better achieve mutual understanding within the patient encounter & to focus on culturally appropriate health care interventions

Question 2

How can Ineffective cross-cultural communication affect patient outcomes?

Answer 2

Can cause:

• misdiagnosis
• repeated hospital admissions
• lower treatment adherence

Question 3

What is the LEARN model of cross-cultural communication?

Answer 3

• Listen:
  
  • Assess patient’s understanding of health condition, causes, potential treatments.
  • Elicit expectations for encounter
  • bring an attitude of curiosity and humility to promote trust & understanding
• Explain: Convey your own perceptions, keeping in mind that the patients may understand health or illness differently based on their culture or background
• Acknowledge: Be respectful, point out areas of agreement and differences
  
  • try to understand if disparate belief systems may lead to therapeutic dilemma
• Recommend: Develop and propose a treatment plan to the patient and their family
• Negotiate: Reach an agreement on the treatment plan in partnership with the patient and family, incorporating culturally relevant approaches that fit with the patients perception of health and healing

Question 4

Describe:
low-context communication
high-context communication

Answer 4

• Low-context communication: Western cultures use direct communication which doesn’t rely heavily on background, nonverbal cues or context to convey meaning
• High-context communication: meanings conveyed but not explicit, using body language, tone of voice, other cues

Question 5

Tips for using an interpretor:

Answer 5

• familiarize with professional interpreter services in area
• speak with interpreter ahead of time to clarify expectations
• use interpreter to arrange next appt and confirm transportation arrangements
• introduce everyone present
• use triangular setting
• ask who most appropriate person to address questions to is
• look at family members when you speak
• debrief with interpreter afterwards