Revue Medicale Suisse
Volume 1, Issue 34, 2005, Pages 2208-2213

Cultural diversity and stereotyping: Implication for the medical practice [Diversité culturelle et stéréotypes: La pratique médicale est aussi concernée] (Review)

Durieux-Paillard S.* , Loutan L.
  • a Centre Santé Migrants-Charmilles, Département de Médecine Communautaire, HUG, 1211 Genève 14, Switzerland
  • b Centre Santé Migrants-Charmilles, Département de Médecine Communautaire, HUG, 1211 Genève 14, Switzerland

Abstract

Increasing number of migrants worldwide brings doctors to treat patients of various origins. Patients' diversity enriches health professionals but also induces a risk of mutual incomprehension, due to cultural and language barriers. Multicultural context stimulates unwittingly stereotyping, based on a simplistic assessment of the patient's culture. Stereotyping is also influenced by the political and media coverage. Studies underscored that universally, minorities patients have an unequal access to health care in host countries. Health professionals should be aware that racial stereotyping exists in medical practice: it is a first step to bridge cultural gap between them and their patients.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

doctor patient relation cultural anthropology Cultural Diversity Physician-Patient Relations risk factor Review social psychology socioeconomics medical practice racism health care Stereotyping health practitioner human Humans migration
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33644618671&partnerID=40&md5=3037c1a0916375577f2fe74a42a5a8d5
ISSN: 16609379
Cited by: 4
Original Language: French