Analysis of Culturally Sensitive Communication in Healthcare Report

This report delves into the critical topic of culturally sensitive communication within the healthcare sector. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication between healthcare professionals, patients, and their families, particularly in diverse cultural settings. The report highlights the various barriers that impede sensitive communication, categorizing them into cultural, social, and political obstacles. Cultural barriers stem from differing values and beliefs, while social barriers include issues like language differences and lack of medical knowledge. Political barriers involve individuals leveraging information for personal gain or external pressures. The report also explores the limitations of current research and proposes potential applications of culturally sensitive communication concepts, such as understanding patient practices, fostering open communication, and developing collaborative strategies. The report concludes by acknowledging the need for further research, planning, and skill development to enhance culturally sensitive communication in healthcare.

Running head: CULTURALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNICATION
CULTURALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNICATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors note

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CULTURALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNICATION
In this contemporary epoch, among several skills, sensitive communication skill is pivotal to be
aware of; especially in the field of healthcare. As healthcare professionals have to cooperate,
people belong to different cultures. Thus, clinicians must have done practices of effective
communication and ware of different existing cultures. In brief aspects, culturally sensitive
communication alludes to the association between patients, clinicians, and family or interacting
in a culturally connected manner means determining a way in which communication can be done
effectively and accepts and respects the differences of culture as well(Brooks, Manias &
Bloomer, 2019).
Culturally sensitive communication is always remained one of the unsolved issues
throughout the time due to several barriers. Among them, culture itself is a major barrier.
Because different culture has distinct values and beliefs, and it is not an effortless work to keep
values and beliefs of all culture in mind and behave accordingly (Kapur, 2018). And healthcare
workers meet thousands of people per day. Furthermore, two more types of barriers, i.e. Social
barriers and Political barriers also play a role in deteriorating sensitive or effective
communication between patients, families and healthcare professionals.
SOCIAL BARRIERS
1) Defining and testing of the message has not done - When doctors guide the families of
patients, then it is simple for doctors to deliver their messages however how families
decode the message is relevant as due to anxiety often messages are interpreted
inappropriately.

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CULTURALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNICATION
2) Language difference - If doctors will use different words and phrases, and patients and
their families will convey differently, then it will give the lead to misunderstanding in the
treatment process.
3) Lack of knowledge - It would not be saying wrong that people who do not relate to the
medical field cannot understand medical terms easily, step by step explanation is
required.
4) Place - Hospital is a kind of place where people usually lose control of their mind as a
result of anxiety and fatigue. Thereby, to communicate families of patients, a relax
environment should be considered.
POLITICAL BARRIERS
Some persons gather information for their benefits. They believe that their power will
increase by playing politics. Relatives of families often mislead uneducated families of the
patient for gaining some advantages. Additionally, few doctors perform these activities due to
external pressure from powerful persons or for personal gain(Claramita et al., 2016).
LIMITATION
Culturally sensitive communication concept is not emerging because of lack of research
evidence. Around the entire globe, the focus is placed on culturally sensitive and culturally
competent instead of associating these theories to communication (Garneau & Pepin, 2015).
SCOPE & COST
Considering literature concept of culturally sensitive communication can be utilized in
three ways:
To develop the capability of understanding the patient’s cultural practices

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To examine sensitive and open communication
To utilize strategies for collaboration with patients and families for ultimate care.
This concept is still underdeveloped, and thorough planning and skill development
strategies are needed. Thereby, enough cost will be required to design, develop and implement
the plan.

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CULTURALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNICATION
References
Brooks, L. A., Manias, E., & Bloomer, M. J. (2019). Culturally sensitive communication in
healthcare: A concept analysis. Collegian, 26(3), 383-391.
Claramita, M., Tuah, R., Riskione, P., Prabandari, Y. S., & Effendy, C. (2016). Comparison of
communication skills between trained and untrained students using a culturally sensitive
nurse–client communication guideline in Indonesia. Nurse education today, 36, 236-241.
Garneau, A. B., & Pepin, J. (2015). A constructivist theoretical proposition of cultural
competence development in nursing. Nurse education today, 35(11), 1062-1068.
Kapur, R. (2018). Barriers to Effective Communication.