A more grassroots approach is also taking shape. The most intimate relationship Dealing with people's health means dealing with them at the most personal level. Beliefs about disease, pain, and death need to be considered. And, of course, delivering bad news is difficult, regardless of cultural norms. In some cultures, however, a poor prognosis is never shared with the patient.
Cultural competency means considering many options and being more careful about making judgments.
In addition, different parts of the body are considered sacred in different cultures. Social expectations also can create problems, such as when punctuality is considered either rude or unimportant. The second, and far more complicated, challenge is communication. This deals with everything from the need for interpreters to nuances of words in various languages. Many patients, even in Western cultures, are reluctant to talk about personal matters such as sexual activity or chemical use.