Cultural Awareness
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____Yes ____No
Question #1: Do I realize the importance and impact of cultural awareness in the doctor-patient relationship?
____Yes ____No
Introduction:
In Hawaiʻi, the Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander group comprises 10% of the total population in the state (U.S. Census 2010). Disparities in health outcomes continue in groups who are underrepresented in health care provider community. It is important to learn about the impact of culture in health and health care delivery. In addition, large numbers of patients use health care delivery systems other than Western medicine such as traditional healing or complementary and alternative medicine
Some Suggestions:
- Increase your understanding and appreciation of cultural differences and similarities among and between groups.
- Approach individuals from different groups with respect in terms of cultural beliefs and practices.
- Develop effective communication skills that allow you to elicit and acknowledge understanding of others, such as asking what the patient believes is the problem, and what outcome of care is expected.
- Learn about the cultural milieu of each academic and clinical setting you enter.
- Explore various health care modalities and gain an awareness of health care delivery resources in Hawaiʻi (e.g., roles that alternative treatments of different cultures play on patients’ health and on Western-based treatments).
- Don’t be afraid to ask others to help you understand how they view health and illness in their culture.
People to Talk To:
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Name
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Title
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Phone
|
Email
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| Lawrence Burgess, MD | Director of Student Affairs |
(808) 692-1000
|
lburgess@hawaii.edu |
| Kristen Teranishi, MD, MS | Assistant Director of Student Affairs |
(808) 692-1006
|
kteranis@hawaii.edu |
| Martina Kamaka, MD | Department of Native Hawaiian Health |
(808) 692-1052
|
kamakam@hawaii.edu |
| Dee-Ann Carpenter, MD | Department of Native Hawaiian Health |
(808) 587-8612
|
deeannc@hawaii.edu |
|
Your faculty mentor(s); Your tutor
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Note: Confidential counseling services are provided for medical students through the Counseling and Student Development Center (956-7927).
In times of a mental health crisis, individuals may call 832-3100 to access the Crisis Line of Hawaii, staffed 24/7. If you believe you are a danger to yourself or to others, please call 911 or go to the nearest ER for assistance.
Final Thoughts:
These comments are a beginning in your journey in becoming a competent and culturally sensitive medical student and physician.
Quotes from former JABSOM students:
“As a med student, I felt I had an advantage in getting thorough histories from patients, because I was given more time with them. This helped me hone my communication skills as well as my cultural sensitivity. One time, some residents had thought a patient from Guam had received little education because of his non-compliance. After spending time with that patient, I learned that he had actually graduated from college, and was non-compliant because the goals of his treatment had not been explained to him. Over time, a more effective, culturally sensitive relationship developed.”
“Wouldn’t a world (and a school) where everyone was the same be really boring?”
“Take advantage of the PBL process to identify your own biases, strengths and weaknesses in your interpersonal skills. The program offers such a valuable opportunity to grow personally and it is easy to overlook this when we think [that all] we are supposed to learn about [is] disease.”