Culturally Sensitive Care Beyond the
Doctor-Patient Visit
Aurora Galindo-Simental B.S. C.H.E.S
Health Educator/Promotora
June 27, 2014
Cultural Sensitivity and Health Care
Cultural Sensitivity
• Cultural sensitivity means being aware that cultural differences
and similarities exist and have an effect on values, learning,
and behavior. Stafford, Bowman, Eking, Hanna, & LopoesDeFede (1997)
• Cultural Sensitivity: respect and empathy to people of various
nationalities.
• Our Spanish speaking team to understand cultural influences,
appreciate adaptation skills, and tailor culturally competent
approaches for at-risk Latino/Hispanic patients.
Caring for Hispanic/Latino Diabetic Patients
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Building trust
Overcoming language barriers
Nutrition management
Addressing myths and facts of diabetes
Family dynamics
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Culturally Sensitive Methods I
• Establish trust and rapport
• Give a warm greeting; put patient at ease
• Improve communications
• Overcome language barriers
• Provide culturally sensitive nutritional management
• Healthy breakfast/food demonstration
• Sensitive to financial concerns
• Missing work, transportation
• Consider family dynamics
• support and encouragement, or lack of.
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Culturally Sensitive Methods II
• Courteous welcome with a positive attitude.
• Listen with sympathy and understanding to patients’
perspective of the problem.
• Decrease physical distance and increase contact with patients
• Shake hands with patients, or place a hand on their shoulder
when speaking.
• Show interest in patients’ lives.
• Brief conversation about their family.
• Use of appropriate titles and greetings.
• Address patients by their proper name (surname), rather than
first name.
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Overcoming Language Barriers
• Spanish language DGA’s are offered to better engage
patients and empower them to self-manage their diabetes.
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Understanding physicians' instructions
Improved family shared decision making
Adherence to treatment
Decrease missed appointments
Increased of patient satisfaction
Long term behavior modification
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Nutrition Management I
• Understanding Cultural Beliefs Regarding Weight
• Excess weight in Latino/Hispanic culture is tolerated and many
times celebrated.
• Overweight children may indicate that they are well take care
of. --Thin children may be viewed as unhealthy
• Mealtime is an especially social activity and serves as a link
with the homeland and family
• Taught not to be wasteful--“Clean your plate.”
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Nutrition Management II
• Incorporating Latino/Hispanic healthier meal options in
the DGA
• All Breakfast items bought in local grocery stores
• Label reading
• Creating meal plans with recipes
• Food demonstration
• Meeting with our bilingual RD CDE
• Group outings to local grocery stores
• Comparing items for a healthier selection
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Addressing Myths of Diabetes
• Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
• You should never eat carbs if you have diabetes.
• If you have pre-diabetes, there is nothing you can do to prevent
Type II diabetes.
• You can catch diabetes from someone else.
• Insulin will cause blindness.
• Being punished with insulin for not following doctor’s orders .
• Having diabetes makes you less of a man.
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Conclusion
Culturally sensitive group appointments are
effective for improving clinical outcomes and
reducing diabetes risk in our Latino/Hispanic
populations.
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DGA
Highlights
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