[Cultural diversity and stereotyping: implication for the medical practice].
Increasing number of migrants worldwide brings doctors to treat patients of various origins. Patients' diversity enriches health professionals but also induces a risk of mutual incomprehension, due to cultural and language barriers. Multicultural context stimulates unwittingly stereotyping, based on a simplistic assessment of the patient's culture. Stereotyping is also influenced by the political and media coverage. Studies underscored that universally, minorities patients have an unequal access to health care in host countries. Health professionals should be aware that racial stereotyping exists in medical practice: it is a first step to bridge cultural gap between them and their patients.
Durieux-Paillard
S
S
Centre santé migrants-Charmilles, Département de médecine, communautaire, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. sophie.durieux@hcuge.ch
Loutan
L
L
D018864:Cultural Diversity; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013240:Stereotyping