Adapted from Effective cross-cultural communication skills - Think Cultural Health with input from people living with IBD and an expert steering committee
- Understand that improving cultural and linguistic appropriateness is an ongoing journey.
- Understand the role that your culture plays in your interactions and delivery of care.
- Understand the role culture plays in health beliefs and behaviors.
- Become knowledgeable about the backgrounds of the individuals you serve.
- Be aware of language differences, and offer language assistance services.
- Build trust and rapport with the individuals you serve to facilitate learning about their needs, values, and preferences.
- Be aware that some individuals may use various terms to describe medical issues (e.g., “sugar” for diabetes).
- Be aware of barriers that can arise when expressions, idioms, acronyms, or multi-meaning words are used (even if you and your patient both speak the same language).
- Ask about stressors and support structure.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Examples:
- How are you feeling between your medication doses?
- How are you feeling after being on this medication?
- What are some of your personal goals?
- What are you most concerned about?
- How can I help?
- What are you hoping to get out of your clinic visit?
- Examples:
- Use simple language. Avoid medical and healthcare jargon. Do not assume you know an individual’s literacy and health literacy levels.
- Check understanding and encourage questions. Do not assume an individual understood what you communicated.
- Adopt a positive, curious, nonjudgmental approach toward all individuals. Do not assign meaning to an individual’s nonverbal communication cues.
- Appreciate how your communication preferences and style may differ from others.
- Understand how communication styles (e.g., nonverbal communication cues) and norms (e.g., the role of various family members) differ across cultures.
- Tailor your communication so that your patients can better understand you.
- Remember the importance of written information (in patient-friendly language) as not all patients will have internet access.
Related Patient Resources
Appointment Guide
Created by the Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, this downloadable PDF helps individuals prepare for and get the most out of their medical appointments related to IBD. The guide offers practical tips and checklists for organizing medical information, asking questions, tracking symptoms, and discussing treatment options during appointments.
Download
Effective Partnering
A webpage from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation that focuses on the concept of effective partnering between patients and healthcare providers in the context of IBD. Emphasizes the importance of open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making between patients and their healthcare team.
Visit site
Shared Decision-Making
Focuses on shared decision-making in the context of IBD. Explains the concept of shared decision-making as a collaborative approach between patients and healthcare providers to make informed decisions about treatment options and management plans.
Download
Reference
- 1. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Think cultural health. Effective cross-cultural communication skills. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/assets/pdfs/resource-library/effective-cross-cultural-communication-skills.pdf.