Last year, two people very close to me experienced significant health events. One underwent a heart transplant, and the other faced a prostate cancer diagnosis. Thankfully, both emerged on the other side with positive outcomes.
While these two individuals faced very different circumstances—ranging from the immediacy of the health threat, their ages, citizenship statuses, support systems, and even their fluency in English—they share one key commonality with me: they are Hispanic.
As a bicultural researcher with a background in multicultural marketing, I am deeply passionate about the importance of understanding the Hispanic experience. I could discuss the reasons why extensively, but instead, I’d like to share a brief reflection about how the experiences of these two Hispanic patients highlight unique nuances that significantly impacted their healthcare journeys, satisfaction levels, and likely their outcomes.
The first patient, in his 50s, is a business owner who has dealt with heart issues for years. He speaks English very well, as does his large support system of friends and family in the area. While he does not remember all the details of his hospital journey, he speaks very highly of the entire staff and the system. He recalls being offered an interpreter at every step, and declining it although, he admits that in retrospect, the stress of his situation made it difficult at times to fully understand what was being communicated to him.
Reflecting on this, I suspect cultural factors such as pride, sensitivity, or perhaps fear of discrimination may have influenced his decision. This shines a light on the difficult challenge healthcare providers face of balancing the need for clear communication and compliance with the need to show respect and honor the patient’s wishes. If he hadn’t had a support system fluent in English, would his outcome have been different? Or would the hospital have taken additional actions?
The second patient, in his late 70s, is a recent immigrant to the United States and does not speak English. Only his daughter is fluent in the language. The healthcare system where he received treatment provided an interpreter when his daughter couldn’t accompany him. Additionally, they arranged transportation for his radiation sessions and used color-coded visual navigation cues to help him find his way. Orientation sessions were also offered to prepare both the patient and his caregivers for the treatment process.
I accompanied him to one of his sessions and saw firsthand how these accommodations eased his experience. He expressed immense gratitude for the care he received, even though the success of his treatment wouldn’t be clear for weeks or months. While it’s hard to say if these resources directly influenced his medical outcomes, they undoubtedly impacted how he managed side effects, his mental state throughout treatment, and his overall satisfaction.
Both health systems in these cases deserve commendation for their culturally sensitive approaches to patient care. They addressed language barriers and other challenges, demonstrating how thoughtful accommodations can make a meaningful difference.
I now feel even more strongly that it’s important to consider patients’ attitudes and behaviors in the development of alternative solutions and effective protocols that lead to positive outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Hispanic healthcare research is invaluable for uncovering cultural beliefs, values, and communication styles. These insights enable healthcare providers to tailor their approach to care, ensuring it is respectful, effective, and culturally sensitive. Research also helps identify what works and highlights areas for improvement, fostering continuous enhancement in the quality of care.
