Multicultural Communication, Cultural & Religious Diversity, and Health Illiteracy in Patient Education

Multicultural Communication and Its Origins

According to Falvo (2011), multicultural communication is the exchange of information between people from different cultures. This type of communication is possible when the parties respect the other's cultures including their values, beliefs, customs, and language. The origin of multicultural communication is in the early 20th century when scholars began to study the effect of culture on communication. Since the 1960s, this field has continued evolving and is becoming more important in the modern world. As a nurse, I have experience with multicultural communication as every day, I have to provide care to patients from cultures different from mine.

Culture, Ethnicity, and Acculturation

Culture, ethnicity, and acculturation are similar as they all define the way of life of the people. These terms are different as culture comprises different elements such as customs, language, traditions, beliefs, and communication modes. Ethnicity is racial and biological and it is a cultural and social heritage passed from one generation to another. On the other hand, acculturation is an individual's adaptation of the behaviors, values, and customs of a new culture (Falvo, 2011). These three terms are important in care provision as they determine how healthcare professionals tailor the care provided to the different patients.

Cultural and Religious Differences in Cross-Cultural Communication

Cultural and religious differences between patients and healthcare professionals can obstruct effective patient education. A lot of healthcare professionals have a cultural perspective that is not shared by patients and thus, they do not have an understanding of the specific cultural variables that affect the patients’ lives (Falvo, 2011). This lack of understanding can be a source of misunderstanding and conflict during cross-cultural communication. As a nurse, I consider the healthcare professionals' culture and religion as they affect their decision-making during various treatment procedures.

Family Culture and Patient Education

Culture affects relationships and roles in the family and this affects patient education in various ways. It affects aspects such as gender roles and child-rearing practices. How patient education is delivered and to whom it is delivered influences how patients receive education on a certain topic. Additionally, gender expectations and roles in the family make differences in when, how, and to whom patient education is provided and the willingness of the patient to follow recommendations (Falvo, 2011). When providing patient education to Hispanic patients, I take into consideration the importance of family as a unit.

Approaches to Address Religious and Cultural Diversity

Healthcare professionals can address religious and cultural diversity by first considering how language, class, and cultural factors affect nonverbal and verbal behaviors. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to communicate in a religiously and culturally appropriate manner. Other religions and cultures may consider directives to be offensive while others expect a more direct approach to patient education. As a healthcare professional, I address cultural and religious diversity in the workplace by being genuine and not being afraid to acknowledge that I am unfamiliar with a culture or religion.

Types of Illiteracy

Illiteracy is the inability of a person to read or write. The different types of illiteracy are cultural, functional, health, emotional, and financial illiteracy. Cultural illiteracy is a lack of knowledge of a particular culture, functional illiteracy is the inability to write or read, health illiteracy is the inability to understand health-related information, emotional illiteracy is the inability to process information, and financial illiteracy is a lack of understanding to process financial information (Falvo, 2011). As a nurse, some of the types of illiteracy that I have encountered are health illiteracy, emotional illiteracy, and cultural illiteracy.

Illiteracy as a Disability

Illiteracy is a disability as it limits the ability of the individual to access information and fully engage in activities in society (Falvo, 2011). For example, in healthcare, health illiteracy makes it difficult for patients to understand medical instructions and read and interpret medication labels. On all occasions, it is crucial for healthcare providers to have knowledge of the effect of illiteracy on care provision and steps to address illiteracy.

Myths About Illiteracy

There are various myths about illiteracy. The first myth is that illiteracy is associated with being uneducated, the use of poor grammar, and low socioeconomic levels. Another misconception about illiteracy is that though it is prevalent in many parts of the world, it is not present in the United States where children's education is mandated by law (Falvo, 2011). Also, there is a misconception that the patients who are unable to read will let the healthcare provider know during the process of care provision.

Assessing Literacy Skills and Readability

There are various tools that can be used to assess the patient’s literacy skills and the readability of the health materials. The patient's literacy skills can be assessed using tools such as the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) which identifies patients with limited reading skills and the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) which measures the patients' functional literacy. Some of the tools that will be used to evaluate the readability of the material are the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) formula and the Suitability of Assessment of Materials (SAM) (Falvo, 2011). Personally, I have not used any of these tools to assess the patient’s literacy skills and I have been using personal judgment.

Establishing Effective Communication

Healthcare professionals may establish effective communication by using a combination of verbal and non-verbal communication. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to avoid using medical jargon, use concise and clear language, and listen to the patient's concerns (Falvo, 2011). Some of the non-verbal communication cues that healthcare providers should adhere to are body language and eye contact. As a healthcare provider, I communicate effectively by involving the patient and the family in the entire care process and using simplified language.

Helping Patients Remember Instructions

Healthcare professionals can help patients remember instructions by presenting the most important information first and presenting the information slowly without rushing through. In all instances, healthcare providers should review the information that they want to give and have the patient confirm if they can understand the information. One tool that healthcare providers can use to present information to patients is a brief pamphlet outlining information that can be easily understood by the patient (Falvo, 2011). As a healthcare provider, one of the ways I ensure that the patients understand the information provided is the use of a teach-back method.

References

• Falvo, D. (2011). Effective patient education: A guide to increased adherence. Jones & Bartlett Learning.