Barriers in Asian American Patient-Physician Communication

Summary

Brianna Newbergy, a senior biology major at Millikin University, presents on the barriers of low health literacy and limited English proficiency among Asian Americans in the U.S. She emphasizes the importance of health literacy as a determinant of immigrant health, noting that 48% of Asian Americans face limited English proficiency, leading to poor health outcomes. Newbergy proposes improving patient-physician communication through models like the Chronic Care Model and Cultural Competency Model, advocating for institutional support, translator availability, and culturally competent care to enhance health outcomes for this growing population. The presentation highlights the need for tailored interventions to bridge communication gaps.

Takeaways

• 📚 Health literacy is defined as the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information necessary for making informed health decisions.
• 👩‍⚕️ Limited English proficiency (LEP) affects 48% of Asian Americans, impacting their access to quality healthcare.
• 📈 Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the U.S., with 20 million individuals making up 6.2% of the population in 2014.
• 🚨 Low health literacy and limited English proficiency are significant barriers leading to poor health outcomes among Asian Americans.
• 🤝 Improving patient-physician communication is essential for enhancing healthcare quality for Asian American immigrants.
• 🩺 The Chronic Care Model emphasizes the importance of proactive healthcare teams and effective patient-provider interactions.
• 🌍 Social and community factors play a crucial role in the healthcare experience of Asian Americans, influencing access and quality of care.
• 🌟 The Cultural Competency Model encourages physicians to engage with patients by understanding their cultural backgrounds and biases.
• 💬 Employing translators and culturally diverse staff can significantly improve patient-physician relations.
• 🔑 The call to action highlights the need to integrate culturally competent care models to support Asian Americans facing health literacy and language barriers.

Q & A

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make informed health decisions.

Why is health literacy important for Asian Americans?

Health literacy is critical for Asian Americans as it directly impacts their ability to understand medical instructions and make informed decisions about their health, especially given the challenges of limited English proficiency.

What percentage of Asian Americans have limited English proficiency?

Approximately 48% of the 20 million Asian Americans in the U.S. were determined to have limited English proficiency, which means they speak or understand English less than very well.

How do low health literacy and limited English proficiency affect health outcomes?

Both low health literacy and limited English proficiency are associated with poorer health outcomes among Asian Americans, leading to significant barriers in accessing and understanding healthcare services.

What is the Chronic Care Model?

The Chronic Care Model focuses on improving the relationship and communication between healthcare providers and patients, emphasizing proactive care, support for self-management, and integration of community resources.

What role does cultural competency play in healthcare?

Cultural competency involves understanding and respecting patients' diverse cultural backgrounds, which is essential for improving patient-physician relationships and ensuring effective communication.

What strategies are suggested for improving communication with Asian American patients?

Suggested strategies include having translators available, employing a culturally diverse staff, and utilizing community health workers who share similar cultural and language backgrounds.

What is the call to action proposed in the presentation?

The call to action is to integrate models of culturally competent care into the American healthcare system to enhance the quality of care for Asian Americans suffering from low health literacy and limited English proficiency.

Who assisted Brianna Newbergy in her research?

Brianna Newbergy thanked Dr. Delany for her support and guidance in conducting this research.

What is the significance of improving patient-physician communication?

Improving patient-physician communication is essential for promoting better health outcomes, facilitating decision support, and enhancing self-management among Asian Americans in the healthcare system.