The Medical clinics of North America
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Cross-cultural communication has many challenges due to the complexity of culture, communication, and language. Improving cross-cultural communication in health care is critical to reducing disparities and improving health equity. ⋯ Unconscious bias and communication training must be intentional. Culture is an attribute and should be celebrated and incorporated into health practice at all levels to prioritize health equity.
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Motivational interviewing (MI) allows medical providers and patients to have more productive conversations about changing health behaviors. MI helps patients talk themselves into changing by evoking discussion around change, thus resolving natural ambivalence. MI practitioners cultivate a spirit of MI and use specific skills and strategies to develop discrepancy between the patient's current behavior and their goals or values. This article discusses the flow of MI, the spirit and method of MI including specific skills and strategies, and important considerations in implementing MI.
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Establishing goals of care (GOC) is a crucial component of a patient's treatment plan. The need for better physician-patient communication in this area has been recognized for decades, yet several gaps remain. Challenges exist for both physician and patient. Physicians should pursue a patient-led approach, exercise cultural competency, and use various communication techniques to guide patients when establishing GOC.
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The authors present models for patient care, reflecting on its modernization. A review of technology including electronic health records is provided, noting its benefits and constraints on the patient-clinician relationship. Keeping in mind the fact that patients are the "end users" of health care systems, several approaches to improving patient experience are shared.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Jul 2022
ReviewHealth Communication and Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression.
The purpose of this article is to provide guidance on completing a thorough, competent, and culturally appropriate health history with details specific to the care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) persons and communities.