Several social conditions affect patient and provider relationships by promoting or hindering reliable connections. In particular, an individual’s faith, cultural background, and sense of trust can impact how they perceive healthcare and the person’s willingness to accept or deny treatment (Hall & Heath, 2020). For instance, due to the history of slavery and prolonged oppression of their culture, many African Americans distrust medical services and are likely not to follow prescriptions (Hall & Heath, 2020). On the other hand, the black population of the US also has a holistic approach to healthcare due to their spiritual beliefs (Hall & Heath, 2020). Therefore, such social conditions as faith can either facilitate or restrict the interactions between patients and providers.
A traditional model is unsuitable for the promotion of health in many situations because it is not inclusive enough. While such an approach may concentrate on a diagnosis, it also may disregard patients’ unique preferences and needs. Each person has specific requirements and experiences with the healthcare system, which can affect the treatment process. Nonetheless, due to being quite standardized, a traditional model often neglects certain factors and is prone to being ineffective.
Implicit bias (IB) influences patient and provider relationships by jeopardizing interactions and treatment. IB refers to people’s unconscious and unintentional assumptions, which can cause disparities in decision-making and communication (Gonzalez et al., 2018). For example, some individuals have a bias regarding race, and such prejudiced thinking from healthcare professionals can negatively affect patients’ perceptions of clinical encounters, trust, and prescription recommendations (Gonzalez et al., 2018). Despite being involuntary, IB can influence a provider’s behavior and lead to doubtfulness in a patient.
I will use the four components of empathy by being open-minded and considerate. For instance, when interacting with a patient from a minority group, I will strive to understand their perspective without judging their experiences but enduring to acknowledge and validate their feelings (Obrien, n.d.). In my professional career, I will endeavor to be compassionate and thoughtful of the challenges faced by my patients and colleagues.
References
Gonzalez, C. M., Deno, M. L., Kintzer, E., Marantz, P. R., Lypson, M. L., & McKee, M. D. (2018). Patient perspectives on racial and ethnic implicit bias in clinical encounters: Implications for curriculum development. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(9), 1669-1675.
Hall, G. L., & Heath, M. (2020). Poor medication adherence in African Americans is a matter of trust. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8(4), 927-942.
Obrien, M. (n.d.). How to have more empathy: Learn the four attributes of empathy from Brené Brown. Mrsmindfulness.