Cultural Competency: Improving Healthcare Access in the United States

This literature review examines the impact of cultural diversity on the United States healthcare system, focusing on the barriers faced by specific populations such as Asian immigrants, Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, and ethnic/racial minorities. The review analyzes journal articles that highlight issues like cultural incompetency, linguistic discordance, limited access to health services, and discrimination. It also addresses the importance of cultural competency training for healthcare providers and strategies to improve health literacy among diverse communities. The research underscores the need for healthcare systems to adapt to the increasing cultural diversity to ensure equitable and high-quality care for all patients. Desklib provides access to this document and many other resources to support student learning and research.

Healthcare

Table of Contents
Topic..........................................................................................................................................2
Specific focus.............................................................................................................................2
Analysis of the topic...................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5
1

Topic
Healthcare system in the United States
The healthcare system in the United States is not considered to be a universally accessible
system. The insured citizens are covered by both private and public health insurance in which
private insurance plans covers most of the part. The programs funded by the government such
as Medicare and Medicaid provide assistance to some of the vulnerable groups. The cultural
difference and inequality among various population groups create huge problems for
healthcare professionals.
Specific focus
Journal Article: Barriers to Health Care among Asian Immigrants in the United States: A
Traditional Review
Author name: Juliana Clough, Sunmin Lee & David H Chae
Bibliography: Clough J, S LeeD Chae, 'Barriers To Health Care Among Asian Immigrants In
The United States: A Traditional Review' (www.researchgate.net, 2013)
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235397961_Barriers_to_Health_Care_among_Asi
an_Immigrants_in_the_United_States_A_Traditional_Review> accessed 29 January 2019
In the United States, Asian immigrants are less likely to use health care services or have
health insurance. The main problems faced by Asian immigrants is to participate fully in the
health care system due to the cultural incompetency, linguistic discordance between patients
and providers, limited access to health services and discrimination1.
Journal Article: Cultural diversity and barriers to high-quality end of life care
Author name: Hussna Abunafeesa & Ahmed F. Elsayem
Bibliography: Abunafeesa HA Elsayem, 'Cultural Diversity And Barriers To High-Quality
End Of Life Care' (Apm.amegroups.com, 2017)
<http://apm.amegroups.com/article/view/12505/14707> accessed 29 January 2019
1 Clough, Juliana, Sunmin Lee, and David H Chae. 2013. "Barriers To Health Care Among Asian Immigrants In
The United States: A Traditional Review". Www.Researchgate.Net.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235397961_Barriers_to_Health_Care_among_Asian_Immigrants_i
n_the_United_States_A_Traditional_Review.
2

The increases in the cultural diversity among the population in the United States have created
problems with the healthcare system. The lack of appropriate communication between the
patient and healthcare professionals creates a huge problem2.
Journal Article: Cultural barriers lead to inequitable healthcare access for Aboriginal
Australians and Torres Strait Islanders
Author name: Jie Li Li
Bibliography: Li J, 'Cultural Barriers Lead To Inequitable Healthcare Access For Aboriginal
Australians And Torres Strait Islanders' (reader.elsevier.com, 2017)
<https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2095771817301044?
token=683581F8133C2C7B507F73270A0AB324B9F1C88FAA9C3A166470739AC4F7000
729F88ECF9B7261A114298E6F05DC0D26> accessed 29 January 2019
The existence of health inequality can be seen among the Torres Strait Islanders and
aboriginal Australians. The cultural barriers are considered to be the most significant factors
to address health inequality of the aboriginals3.
Journal Article: Improving Culturally Appropriate Care Using a Community-Based
Participatory Research Approach: Evaluation of a Multicomponent Cultural Competency
Training Program, Arkansas, 2015–2016
Author name: Pearl Anna McElfish, Christopher R. Long, Brett Rowland, Sarah Moore,
Ralph Wilmoth & Britni Ayers
Bibliography: McElfish P and others, 'Improving Culturally Appropriate Care Using A
Community-Based Participatory Research Approach: Evaluation Of A Multicomponent
Cultural Competency Training Program, Arkansas, 2015–2016' (2017) 14 Preventing Chronic
Disease
2 Abunafeesa, Hussna, and Ahmed F. Elsayem. 2017. "Cultural Diversity And Barriers To High-Quality End Of
Life Care". Apm.Amegroups.Com. http://apm.amegroups.com/article/view/12505/14707.
3 Li, Jie Li. 2017. "Cultural Barriers Lead To Inequitable Healthcare Access For Aboriginal Australians And Torres
Strait Islanders". Reader.Elsevier.Com. https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2095771817301044?
token=683581F8133C2C7B507F73270A0AB324B9F1C88FAA9C3A166470739AC4F7000729F88ECF9B7261A114
298E6F05DC0D26.
3

The United States has become more ethnically and racially diverse. Ethnic/racial minority
communities face cultural barriers consisting of implicit ethnic/racial bias among the health
care providers within the health care system4.
Journal Article: Understanding Cultural and Linguistic Barriers to Health Literacy
Author name: Kate Singleton & Elizabeth M. S. Krause
Bibliography: Singleton KE Krause, 'Understanding Cultural And Linguistic Barriers To
Health Literacy' (Ojin.nursingworld.org, 2009)
<http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/
OJIN/TableofContents/Vol142009/No3Sept09/Cultural-and-Linguistic-Barriers-.html>
accessed 29 January 2019
In the United States, the healthcare providers are taking steps for addressing the major threats
to the health care system that are language and culture. The training programs and health
literacy are being developed by keeping view the need for addressing the threat5.
Analysis of the topic
The increase in cultural diversity has created barriers for healthcare professionals to provide
effective care to the patients. Thus, the healthcare systems in the United States are also
focusing on addressing this barrier.
4 McElfish, Pearl Anna, Christopher R. Long, Brett Rowland, Sarah Moore, Ralph Wilmoth, and Britni Ayers.
2017. "Improving Culturally Appropriate Care Using A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach:
Evaluation Of A Multicomponent Cultural Competency Training Program, Arkansas, 2015–2016". Preventing
Chronic Disease 14. doi:10.5888/pcd14.170014.
5 Singleton, Kate, and Elizabeth M. S. Krause. 2009. "Understanding Cultural And Linguistic Barriers To Health
Literacy". Ojin.Nursingworld.Org.
http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/
Vol142009/No3Sept09/Cultural-and-Linguistic-Barriers-.html.
4

References
Abunafeesa, Hussna, and Ahmed F. Elsayem. 2017. "Cultural Diversity And Barriers To
High-Quality End Of Life Care". Apm.Amegroups.Com.
http://apm.amegroups.com/article/view/12505/14707.
Clough, Juliana, Sunmin Lee, and David H Chae. 2013. "Barriers To Health Care Among
Asian Immigrants In The United States: A Traditional Review". Www.Researchgate.Net.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235397961_Barriers_to_Health_Care_among_
Asian_Immigrants_in_the_United_States_A_Traditional_Review.
Conklin, David W. 2011. The Global Environment Of Business. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Li, Jie Li. 2017. "Cultural Barriers Lead To Inequitable Healthcare Access For Aboriginal
Australians And Torres Strait Islanders". Reader.Elsevier.Com.
https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2095771817301044?
token=683581F8133C2C7B507F73270A0AB324B9F1C88FAA9C3A166470739AC4F7
000729F88ECF9B7261A114298E6F05DC0D26.
McElfish, Pearl Anna, Christopher R. Long, Brett Rowland, Sarah Moore, Ralph Wilmoth,
and Britni Ayers. 2017. "Improving Culturally Appropriate Care Using A Community-
Based Participatory Research Approach: Evaluation Of A Multicomponent Cultural
Competency Training Program, Arkansas, 2015–2016". Preventing Chronic Disease 14.
doi:10.5888/pcd14.170014.
Singleton, Kate, and Elizabeth M. S. Krause. 2009. "Understanding Cultural And Linguistic
Barriers To Health Literacy". Ojin.Nursingworld.Org.
http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/
OJIN/TableofContents/Vol142009/No3Sept09/Cultural-and-Linguistic-Barriers-.html.
5