Looking beyond "affordable" health care: cultural understanding and sensitivity-necessities in addressing the health care disparities of the U.S. Hispanic population.
Health disparities are pervasive in the United States; but among Hispanics, access to health care is encumbered by poverty, lack of insurance, legal status, and racial or minority status. Research has identified certain aspects of Hispanic culture, values, and traditions contributing to the nature of the Hispanic patient-doctor relationship and the quality of the health care service. Current educational efforts by nonprofit organizations, government, health professionals, and pharmaceutical manufacturers fail to address the needs for accessible and appropriately culture-sensitive information when approaching the diverse Hispanic community. Understanding Hispanics' consumptive practices and expectations surrounding medications is critical to the success of many treatment regimens. Recommendations are presented to address this health care issue.
Department of Marketing, College of Business and Public Administration, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58201, USA. mary.askim@mail.business.und.edu
Mary K
MK
Askim-Lovseth
Adriana
A
Aldana
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000208:ethnology; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States