The United States is a developed country, but racial or ethnic disparities are still found in the healthcare system of the U.S. Research has been conducted to address the different aspects of these ethnic disparities. The current research focuses on the sociocultural barriers to care to evaluate and address the causes of ethnic disparities. According to research results, this issue can find its solution in the field of cultural competence.
The authors of the article have successfully identified key components for intervention along with a description of a practical framework for the implementation of measures to address ethnic disparities present in the healthcare system. For this purpose, a literature review was conducted using academic and government publications to check the level of different barriers to the implementation of cultural competency efforts. Furthermore, sociocultural barriers to care in the U.S. healthcare system are present at organizational, structural, and clinical levels. At the organizational level, leadership is the source of these barriers; at the structural level, there is a process of care that serves as a barrier(Betancourt et al.). While at the clinical level, a provider and patient encounter are responsible for these barriers. To address these barriers, the approach of cultural competency can be used that consists of a formal framework of cultural competence interventions.
Moreover, minority recruitment can be added to the health professions along with the development of interpreter services and language(Betancourt et al.). There can also be the use of more and more education related to cross-cultural issues available in healthcare settings so that people may have acknowledgement of their rights. By using these interventions, most of the issues related to ethnic disparities, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination can be addressed effectively. This is necessary, as there are ongoing demographic changes that require the elimination of ethnic disparities in health and healthcare.
Works Cited
Betancourt, Joseph R., et al. “Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and healthcare.” Public health reports (2016).
