Cultural Competency in Health Care
Dr. Dorothy DobbinsOffice of Cultural Affairs
ETSU-Division of Health Sciences
QI Resident Training ProjectApril 8, 2009
Learning Objectives
By the close of this session, you will be able to:
Define cultural competency Understand the impact of culture on health outcomes, i.e. health disparities in general and of the region Identify at least one model for enhancing cultural competencyDiscuss and relate cultural competency to the development of quality improvement activities in clinics.
Cultural Competency is:
• That set of knowledge, skills, behaviors, attitudes, and level of self awareness that allows an individual to work effectively in cross cultural settings.
Cultural Competency Framework
Culturethe patterns of behavior and thinking that people living in social groups learn, create,
and share.
Race
Nationality
Age
Gender
Sexual - Affectual
Ability
Region
Religion
Table F. Population Change of Regions by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1995 to 2025
(In thousands.) _________________________________________________________________ Year Total ----------Non-Hispanic---------
and White Black American Asian Hispanic
region Indian origin
U.S. 72,295 15,594 11,920 812 11,970 31,999
Northeast 5,927 -2,074 1,495 32 2,319 4,155
Midwest 7,306 1,825 1,857 194 1,132 2,298
South 29,558 10,407 7,642 199 1,792 9,518 West 29,504 5,436 926 387 6,727 16,028
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division, PPL-47, Preferred Series, PPL-47, table 3.
Health Disparities
Specific population based differences in mortality and morbidity rates in diseases
and treatment outcomes
Disparities in Health Care The Kaiser Family Foundation (2002)
• National Survey of Physicians: Doctors on Disparities in Health Care
Institute of Medicine (2002)• Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and
Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
The Commonwealth Fund (2002)• Minority Americans Lag Behind Whites on
Nearly Every Measure of Health Care Quality
• Cardiac disease
• Diabetes
• Infant mortality
• HIV Infections/AIDS
• Cancer screening and management
• Immunizations
Minority Populations are Disproportionately Affected
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhqr05/safety/T2-38.htm
Health Disparities
The 2007 National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) is a comprehensive national overview of quality of health care in the United States.
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhqr05/Index.html
“The Eight Americas”
Source: Investigation of Morality Disparities across Races, Counties, and Race-Counties in the US (1982-2001), Murray et. Al., 2006
Where You Live Is Linked to Life Expectancy
AsiansNorthland L-I Rural Whites
Middle America
L-I Whites Appalachia/ MS ValleyWestern Native AmericansBlack
Middle
America
L-I Southern
Rural
Blacks
High
Risk
Urban
Blacks
Gender, Race and Age Segments Specific Percent of Excess Mortality Rates in the Appalachian Region Compared to Total
US Rates by Cause of Death, 1990-1997Cause of Death Premature Mortality 35-64 Elderly Mortality age 65+
WhiteMale
WhiteFemale
BlackMale
BlackFemale
WhiteMale
WhiteFemale
BlackMale
BlackFemale
Heart disease 27.4% 29.8 9.0 12.2 10.9 11.6 1.3 -5.7
Cancers 12.2 3.0 3.0 -2.1 5.0 -2.1 -2.3 -4.9
Stroke 17.9 14.5 15.7 13.8 5.0 3.9 .8 .9
Lung Cancer 27.7 2.7 4.2 -3.7 13.8 -8.3 -3.4 -11.8
Accidental deaths -1.5 -2.0 2.4 3.0 16.9 10.2 10.3 12.5
COPD 6.6 9.2 14.9 16.9 11.9 -.7 6.0 -1.0
Diabetes 14.8 22.4 10.7 20.5 3.6 23.0 -3.5 1.2
Motor Vehicle Accidents
25.8 23.3 23.4 19.1 21.1 13.7 21.3 5.7
Halverson, J.A., Ma, L., and Harner, E.J. (2004). An analysis of disparities in health status and accessto health care in the Appalachian region. Washington DC: Appalachian Regional Commission.
Kaiser National Survey of Physicians
Department of Family Medicine
AETNA FOUNDATION AETNA 2001 QUALITY CARE RESEARCH FUND
Project Title: "Assessing the Impact of Cultural Competency Training Using Participatory Quality Improvement Methods” Project Period: January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2003
Grantee: Center for Healthy Families and Cultural Diversity - Department of Family Medicine University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Authors: Robert C. Like, MD, MS, Principal Investigator; Fulcomer, Kairys, Wathington, BA Jesse Crosson, PhD
Awareness
Behaviors
RESPECT: A Cultural Competence Model Awareness (as a deliberate thought process) is an important first
step in becoming culturally competent as an individual and an organization.
Beyond gaining awareness, knowledge and skills, fundamentally cultural competency, whether at the individual or organizational level, must be about
Above all, people, clients and organizations should be engaged in ways that provide:
• R – Rapport• E – Empathy• S – Support• P – Partnerships• E – Explanations• C – Cultural• T – Trust
RESPECT!
Source: Mutha, 2002
Beyond the Vital Signs What are some challenges you have faced with
understanding the beliefs and/or practices of patients?
What are some institutional policies that have limited your ability to treat your patient as an individual?
What skills/behaviors did you note that appeared to be effective in handling cultural sensitive situations?
Did the film suggest any cultural competency training for your residents that could improve the quality of patient care?