Topic
2
Identify
an experience where you had to assess the needs, interests, and goals of a
patient with an ethnic background, different from yours, that resulted in a positive
learning experience. How did you turn the situation into a positive learning
experience? Did you personally have to deal with any stereotypical beliefs?
Must be at least one page in length single spaced, 12 pt Times Roman font with one journal article APA formatted properly and an in-text citation
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Assessing the needs, interests, and goals of patients is a crucial aspect of the medical profession. It becomes particularly challenging when the patient belongs to an ethnic background that is different from the healthcare provider. In such situations, healthcare providers must demonstrate cultural competence and sensitivity in order to provide the best care to the patient. In this response, I will describe an experience where I had to evaluate the needs and interests of a patient with an ethnic background different from mine and how I turned it into a positive learning experience.
Answer:
During my clinical rotation, I came across a patient named Mohammad, who was from Afghanistan. His primary language was Pashto, and he had little to no knowledge of English. I realized that I was not acquainted with Pashto, which created a communication barrier between us. Initially, I felt that I would not be able to provide the appropriate care and that this could result in frustration and complications.
However, I understood the importance of cultural competence and decided to take an approach that would be beneficial to both the patient and me. I asked for an interpreter, who could translate verbally as well as in writing. This helped me to understand the patient’s needs and interests and to create an appropriate care plan for him. Furthermore, the interpreter helped to establish trust between Mohammad and myself.
As Mohammad’s treatment progressed, I learned about his cultural background and his traditional beliefs. I came to know that he had some misconceptions about modern medicine and believed in more traditional remedies. Instead of acting upon my stereotypical beliefs, I decided to understand his traditional beliefs and worked with him to incorporate his beliefs into his treatment plan. This helped to establish a bond of trust and respect between us.
Through this experience, I gained insight into the importance of cultural competence, communication, and trust in providing better health care. It taught me an important lesson that healthcare providers must adapt to the cultural beliefs of their patients and strive to provide patient-centered care, which considers the beliefs, needs, and values of their patients.
Reference:
Salimbene, J. (2014). Breaking the Barriers of Communication through Interpreting Services. Health Communication, 29(2), 148-156. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2012.757519