Background: As the population becomes more diverse, is it imperative that health care providers recognize the need to deliver culturally competent care to improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction. Cultural competency in health care is the ability to recognize and understand cultural distinctions, address unconscious/conscious bias, and adapt care delivery and services to meet individuals’ unique social, cultural, and language needs.
The main purpose of the educational exhibit, “Culturally Competent Care for Hispanic/Latino Patients”, is to provide an opportunity to enhance cultural training for the medical professionals responsible for the Breast Imaging care of Hispanic woman.
Learning Objectives: 1. Define and understand cultural competency in healthcare. 2. Discuss Hispanic/Latino cultural perspectives and values regarding health and healthcare. 3. Review different approaches to establish rapport and build a relationship with Hispanic/Latino patients. 4. Review cultural values that play an important role in the health of Hispanic/Latino population. 5. Understand the similarities, as well as, variability among Hispanic subgroups.
Abstract Content/Results: The educational exhibit will be designed to provide an opportunity to enhance cultural training for the medical professionals responsible for the Breast Imaging care of Hispanic woman. 1. Provide an overview of the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States, including current statistics and the projections of the largest minority group in the United States. 2. Present the facts about breast cancer in Hispanic/Latino women in the United States and the barriers to obtain an adequate healthcare access. 3. Describe the five normative cultural values in Hispanic/Latino patients that can impact clinical encounters and outcomes (“simpatia- kindness, personalismo-friendliness, respeto-respect, familismo- loyalty to family, and fatalismo-fatalism”). 4. Develop interactive clinical scenarios about the care of Hispanic/Latino patients with the purpose of training the targeted audience which includes all members of the breast care team from schedulers to the radiologists.
Conclusion: When a healthcare professional understands cultural differences and practices, he/she is able to use this knowledge to provide more accurate care and treatment. The patient may also respond better to people and treatment steps when she/he feels understood. Being culturally competent also helps prevent miscommunication and treatment errors. Our SBI membership can benefit greatly and improve their care for this community.
