Question

Review various definitions of “ethnocentrism” as provided by your textbook and other internet resources. Create your own definition for this term. Give an example of how ethnocentrism has had an affect (positive or negative) on a patient you have come into contact with in the delivery of healthcare services. Describe how ethnocentrism may have impacted the health and well-being of the patient and their future encounters with the healthcare system.

Answer 1

Definition of ethnocentrism:
• Evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture.
• Judging another culture by the values and standards of one's own culture.
• The belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture.
• Believing that the people, customs and traditions of your own race or nationality are better than those of other races.
• It is characterised by or based on the attitude that one's own group is superior.
Own definition: A tendency to view other groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own is called as ethnocentrism.
A major challenge in today's health care sector is culture. The health care choices and outcomes must be based on the patient's culture and experience. This makes the health care providers to develop intercultural competencies to understand from the patients view and adjust accordingly.
Medical ethnocentrism may cause the patients to refuse to communicate beliefs or behaviours that will cause negative reaction in the provider. It is a barrier because it inhibits a provider’s understanding of the patient’s beliefs and behaviours. It gives a negative impact on the patient’s health and can cause exacerbation of patient condition and even death. There is a significant impact on the quality of care specially inaccurate diagnosis and treatment, exacerbation of illness and noncompliance. The quality of communication and relationship between the patient and the provider is responsible for the positive and negative outcomes.