Public Health Essay

Public health
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Health care practitioners ought to be culturally sensitive in order to provide a more holistic healthcare provision including even spiritual elements where possible. Culture includes the beliefs, attitudes, language and norms shared by a group of people. Culture has influenced the way nursing personnel handle health issues since misunderstandings can arise because of communication or language barriers. As such, there has been increased scrutiny on how to improve patient communication in light of the patent’s cultural context. The health care system is increasingly integrating cultural diversities, with health care practitioners providing an enabling environment where patients feel comfortable discussing their views when seeking treatment options (Coleman-brueckheimer & Dein, S, 2011).
The changing demographics in the U.S. highlight the significance of cultural competence, and the minorities in many communities are typically underserved. Even when the physicians provide all the relevant information, patients may be reluctant to adhere to medical regimens while patient satisfaction may be affected negatively by misunderstandings. For instance, a Jehovah Witness follower would refuse blood transfusion even when it is very necessary and this is a dilemma for the medical practitioners o ...