African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities suffer greater disparities in health and quality of life than do non-minorities. Racial and ethnic minorities also experience poorer access to health care compared to white Americans. They face greater barriers accessing their usual source of care, contending with issues such as difficulty obtaining an appointment, difficulty obtaining a qualified bilingual-bicultural interpreter, and long waiting times. Research has found that many of these differences continue to be an issue, even after adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Why do these disparities persist? How can cultural competency in health research alleviate these disparities? How does cultural competence improve health care outcomes? This presentation will attempt to address some of these questions by highlighting the importance of cultural competency in research aimed at eliminating disparities in health care access and health outcomes. It will review some of the recommendations regarding improving data collection and utilization efforts put forth by the President’s Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. It will provide some key strategies for incorporating cultural competency into research agendas and program development and implementation. Finally, it will provide time for the audience to participate in an open discussion on these critical issues.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Cultural Competency, Culture
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.