How Cross-Cultural Medicine Enriches Your Medical Practice
Understanding your patients and being able to properly communicate with them is key for providing successful treatment. On many occasions, cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings, poor adherence to treatment, and negative outcomes. This is where cross-cultural medicine comes in. But what is cross-cultural medicine? And how does it help you improve your medical practice?
Understanding Cross-Cultural Medicine
The concept of cross-cultural medicine can be interpreted in two ways. The first one and more prevalent is the understanding that not everyone is like you. This might sound rather simplistic and like an obvious statement, but there are different aspects to it. Saying “not everyone is like you” means that their background, needs, understanding, and way of thinking can be entirely different from yours. Therefore, their way to communicate and react can be a challenge. In addition, cross-cultural medicine also involves situating yourself in the context in which you’re tending to your patients.
The second definition or interpretation of cross-cultural medicine refers to the synergy that can take place when two or more cultures mix. This means that parts of your medical practice are adopted by the place where you are working, and also, parts of the medical practices used in that place might become part of your day to day work life. This doesn’t necessarily refer to new or alternative treatments. It can also refer to how you approach your patients, the advice you provide to them, and your understanding of their way to view life.
More Knowledge, Better Outcomes
As a healthcare practitioner, you’re constantly getting updated on the newest drugs, diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic options. However, refreshing your knowledge regarding the cultural differences you might face at work is also needed. As you better understand your patients, you’ll be able to provide them with solutions that are more suited to their needs. Populations are becoming more diverse every day as globalization continues to grow. Therefore, by opening your mind -and your practice- to the existence of different cultures you will be able to provide better care.
In addition, patients who feel more comfortable with their healthcare provider are more prone to provide more information about their background. A lack of cultural awareness can have consequences for both the provider and the patient. Therefore, applying the principles of cross-cultural medicine could be instrumental to not only understand your patient better but also to diagnose them! Plus, if you are able to provide treatment in a way that doesn’t clash with their culture, outcomes stand to be much better.
An Educational Experience
While numerous medical schools are now including cross-cultural medicine as part of their courses, seeing it in practice can be even more impactful. If you have students under your care, then you can set an example for future generations of healthcare providers. Overall, this will lead to a more satisfying time at work for you, better results for the patients, and long-term improvement in medical practice in your region. Theory can only go so far when it comes to addressing the cultural differences that can create a gap in the doctor-patient or nurse-patient relationship.
Taking a closer look at the benefits of cross-cultural medicine, you can also see long-term results when it comes to your patients. Once you are better able to understand and treat their ailments, you can also help them in taking control of their own health. As you and your patient develop a better relationship, they might feel more comfortable asking questions. In addition, you will be able to explain any lifestyle changes need, for example, which will lead to a long-term improvement in their health.
Cross-cultural medicine has become a need now more than ever with diversity growing at an accelerated pace. Learning how to implement it can only make you a better healthcare practitioner, and it will help you help your patients in a more satisfactory way for everyone. This is why we offer different programs that can help you enrich your practice by learning from other cultures. There is no greater way than by diving right in!