How Social Determinants Deepen Healthcare Inequality
Social determinants of healthcare increasingly influence and control access to healthcare resources. These determinants, such as socioeconomic status, racism, and environmental conditions, are often closely tied to ethnicity or race. This strong correlation has fueled healthcare disparities in the United States and around the globe.
Many countries have experienced rapid increases in ethnic and racial diversity. As a result, healthcare systems must now address new challenges, particularly those involving culturally competent nursing care. With patients from more diverse backgrounds, the need for a healthcare workforce trained in cultural awareness and sensitivity has never been more urgent. For a closer look at how this impacts real-world nursing practice, explore our in-depth analysis on nursing care and disparities.
My Personal Standpoint on Cultural Competence in Nursing
Throughout my nursing career, I’ve cared for individuals from vastly different racial and ethnic backgrounds. My experiences affirm the pressing need for nurses and other healthcare providers to undergo cultural acculturation, to learn, adopt, and apply culturally competent practices that deliver unbiased care.
One encounter stands out in particular. A Latinx woman in her early 50s told me that her illness was “God’s punishment for disobedience.” This belief, though spiritual, reflected deeper cultural perceptions and highlighted how some patients interpret illness differently due to their backgrounds. This case illustrates why both governments and healthcare institutions should invest more in training nurses to provide culturally competent nursing care.
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Barriers to Healthcare for Racial and Ethnic Minorities
According to LaVeist & Pierre (2014), healthcare disparities stem from a mix of social determinants: low income, racism, illiteracy, and poor living conditions. These factors prevent minority groups, including African Americans, Latinx communities, Asians, and Native American Indians, from accessing adequate healthcare.
The Latinx patient mentioned earlier had only a primary education and no access to tertiary learning. On the privilege–disadvantage continuum, she was considered highly disadvantaged, lacking key identity traits like age under 60, white European descent, male gender, heterosexual orientation, and historical privilege. Her story is not unique, and such classifications influence access to healthcare.
To understand how data systems and informatics play a role in reducing these disparities, consider our comparative guide on healthcare information systems.
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Urgent Need for a Culturally Diverse Healthcare Workforce
After seeing how disparities in education, employment, income, and healthcare affect marginalized communities, I advocate for healthcare institutions to hire culturally competent nurses. Beyond hiring, healthcare organizations should implement targeted training programs that improve cultural awareness among healthcare providers.
Culturally competent nursing care demands more than empathy. Nurses must understand different languages, respect religious or spiritual preferences, and communicate clearly and respectfully. According to the U.S. Office of Minority Health, effective cultural communication includes leadership training, literacy support, and services aligned with patients’ cultural health beliefs and preferred languages.
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My Future Commitment to Equitable Patient Care
Going forward, I am committed to delivering equitable, effective, and respectful healthcare services. This includes ensuring patients understand their health conditions and treatment options, regardless of their background.
The data is clear: hiring a culturally competent healthcare workforce is one of the most effective ways to combat rising healthcare disparities.
Also, check out our timely resource on how seemingly unrelated factors like caffeine affect academic performance, a surprising but real social determinant that impacts student health outcomes.
Final Thoughts: Cultural Competence is the Missing Link
Academic research repeatedly confirms the importance of culturally competent nursing care in delivering unbiased healthcare. As global demographics shift, healthcare systems must evolve. Equipping nurses with the tools and training they need to provide compassionate, culturally aware care is no longer just a good idea. It’s a healthcare necessity.
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References
- LaVeist, T. A., & Pierre, G. (2014). Integrating the 3Ds—social determinants, health disparities, and health-care workforce diversity. Public Health Reports, 129(1_suppl2), 9-14.
- U.S. Office of Minority Health. National CLAS Standards. Think Cultural Health. (n.d.). https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/assets/pdfs/EnhancedNationalCLASStandards.pdf
