Cultural competency in healthcare: learning across boundaries.
During 2006-2007, 1 was fortunate to study and work as a Fulbright Scholar at the Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice, Children's Hospital, Boston. As part of my Fulbright experience in the United States, 1 collaboratively developed a cross-cultural educational experience between the faculty of the Institute of Professionalism and Ethical Practice and of the Chair of Medical Psychology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan to explore how patient-centered care is interpreted and enacted across cultures. Both groups wrote a patient-centered dialogue based on the same clinical scenario. Dialogues were exchanged and each group commented on the other's dialogue during a videoconference. Both groups identified responding to the patient's illness experience and emotions as central to patient-centeredness, while patient autonomy was understood differently. Constructing an ideal patient-centered dialogue and the discussion with a group of another culture enabled participants to become more aware of their implicit assumptions about patient-centeredness. This experience helped both groups to better understand our 'blind spots' and enhance our cultural humility. It was thanks to the 'other' that we ultimately learned more about ourselves.
Lamiani
Giulia
G
D001900:Boston; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations