Cross-cultural health care for older adults: strategies for pharmacists.
Review
Overview
abstract
The United States population not only is aging, but also becoming more ethnically diverse. Approximately half of elders who take medications find adherence challenging, and cultural diversity is one of the variables that may affect adherence. By better understanding patients' cultural perspectives, senior care pharmacists can more effectively address their medication management needs; failure to recognize these differences may contribute to misunderstanding or miscommunication that may affect treatment. When a patient does not adhere to prescribed medications, explore reasons and feelings. Different ethnic groups have varying communication styles and also seek different degrees of family involvement in diagnosis and treatment. Some mistrust in Western health care, choose to use herbs and nonpharmacologic agents, and have different time orientation that may affect adherence. Senior pharmacists have an active role in screening, evaluation, and counseling elderly, ethnically diverse patients. Applying general trends of cultural values should not be mistaken for stereotyping.
