Multiculturalism in the health field. Nursing as an integrating agent.
Keywords:
Cultural diversity, ethnocentrism, health equity, community integration, culturally competent health care, transcultural nursingAbstract
Background
In the current era of migration, encountering multicultural areas is nothing new. In 2023, Lugo was home to 12,142 people of foreign origin and approximately 1,500 individuals of Roma ethnicity. Cultural integration within the healthcare system and the provision of culturally competent care have become fundamental necessities in this new era.
Objective
The primary objective of this study is to understand the perceptions held by cultural minorities and nursing staff in Lugo regarding cultural adaptation within the healthcare setting.
Methodology
A biopsychosocial study was conducted using a qualitative approach and an interpretive paradigm. Ethnographic research methods were employed, utilizing tools such as in-depth interviews and validated scales.
Results
Cultural integration within Lugo's healthcare system is severely compromised. Unfounded prejudices, language and cultural barriers, and a lack of information hinder the nurse-patient relationship. Compounding these issues is a scarcity of resources—such as the absence of intercultural mediators—which prevents nursing staff from providing culturally competent care and leads to inequitable treatment, thereby jeopardizing the health of these minority groups.
Conclusions
The health status of these minorities is suboptimal due to inadequate cultural adaptation within Lugo's healthcare system. A lack of resources prevents nursing staff from delivering culturally sensitive care, thereby increasing healthcare inequity and lowering the overall health level of the population.
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