Culture
- Each patient’s unique cultural background influences his/her health beliefs, attitudes, and practices. It is important for you to seek information from your patients about their perspectives on health and health care.
- Along with understanding your patients' cultural backgrounds, it is also important to be aware of your own cultural background, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors and how they may be affecting your communication with your patients.
- Culturally competent health communication avoids stereotyping patients
Health Literacy
- The literacy level of patients can affect their health communication. Health literacy involves a range of social and individual factors which are influenced by educational systems, health systems, culture, and language.
- Literacy levels may affect patients’ ability to read text and follow instructions when performing tasks related to their health care
Limited English Proficients
- LEP makes it difficult to understand health care procedures, navigating the health care delivery system, accessing quality care, and cooperating with health care recommendations.