Healthcare Disparities
Healthcare disparities refer to differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare services between different demographic groups (Zimmerman & Anderson, 2019). These inequalities can be based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, and geographic location. Healthcare disparities can be demonstrated in several ways, including differences in disease incidence and prevalence rates, access to preventive care, the quality of care received, access to healthcare insurance, and health outcomes. Healthcare disparities are a big issue in the healthcare industry, leading to unequal distribution of healthcare resources and inequities in health outcomes (Zimmerman & Anderson, 2019).
Causes
As mentioned earlier, causes of healthcare disparities include but are not limited to socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, geographic location, gender, age, disability status, and sexual orientation (Jones et al., 2019). Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may have less access to healthcare due to financial limitations and a lack of health insurance, which can lead to poorer health outcomes. People from certain racial and ethnic backgrounds may experience healthcare disparities due to discrimination and cultural and language barriers. Individuals living in rural areas or areas with few healthcare providers may have limited access to healthcare services, leading to healthcare disparities. Regarding gender, females might experience healthcare disparities due to differences in the types of health conditions they experience and disparities in access to reproductive healthcare.
Regarding age, older adults may experience healthcare disparities due to age-related health issues and limited mobility, limiting their access to healthcare services. Persons with disabilities may experience healthcare disparities due to a lack of accommodations. On sexual orientation and gender identity, LGBTQ individuals may experience healthcare disparities due to discrimination and a lack of culturally competent healthcare providers (Jones et al., 2019).
Context or Setting
Healthcare inequalities can occur at different stages of healthcare delivery, such as access to healthcare services, quality of healthcare delivered, and health outcomes (Zimmerman & Anderson, 2019). For instance, some populations may have limited access to healthcare services due to a lack of transportation, language barriers, medical insurance coverage, or limited availability of healthcare providers in their region. Additionally, healthcare quality can be lower for some populations due to inherent bias, discrimination, and cultural differences. Health outcomes can also be worse for some populations due to higher rates of chronic diseases, limited access to preventive care services, and environmental factors.
Why the Problem is Important to Me
Healthcare disparities are important to me because they affect the quality of care delivered. I want to always provide high-quality and equitable patient care as a professional responsibility and ethical consideration. Ethical principles, including justice and equality, guide nurses. Addressing healthcare disparities is an ethical imperative for nurses to ensure culturally sensitive care is delivered, people have equal access to healthcare services and promote health equity.
Groups of People Affected by Healthcare Disparities
Racial and ethnic minorities like African Americans and Hispanics, people from low-income backgrounds, rural communities, LGBTQ individuals, older adults, persons with disabilities, and females form groups affected by healthcare disparities (Jones et al., 2019). For example, women might experience healthcare disparities regarding access to reproductive health services like contraception and maternity care.
Potential Solutions and What Will Be Required to Implement the Solution
Addressing healthcare disparities is critical for achieving health equity and improving health outcomes for everyone in the country. One solution to addressing healthcare disparities is to increase access to healthcare services for underserved communities. This is done through the Affordable Care Act that expanded Medicaid eligibility, increasing access to healthcare services for low-income individuals. To implement this solution, more funds should be channeled to healthcare infrastructure, training of the healthcare workforce, and technology to provide telehealth services in rural or underserved areas.
Improving the cultural competency of health workers is another possible solution to healthcare disparities. Healthcare professionals must understand their patients’ cultural beliefs and practices to provide effective care (Brottman et al., 2020). For example, providing interpreters, increasing staff members’ diversity, and incorporating cultural sensitivity training in nursing education. This solution requires investment in healthcare staff training and education.
Another potential solution is addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, and housing, which largely contribute to healthcare disparities (Maness et al., 2021). Addressing these determinants can help improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare disparities. For example, programs that provide affordable housing, food assistance, and educational opportunities for community members can help to improve the health outcomes of individuals from low-income backgrounds. This solution requires collaboration between healthcare providers, the government, and social service organizations (Maness et al., 2021).
Potential Consequences of Ignoring Healthcare Disparities
Ignoring healthcare disparities can have serious consequences for individuals, communities, and society. Poor health outcomes are one of the possible consequences. Healthcare inequalities can result in some groups of people receiving suboptimal healthcare, leading to poor health outcomes, including higher morbidity and mortality rates. Reduced productivity is another possible consequence. Healthcare disparities can result in reduced productivity for individuals who do not receive adequate healthcare due to missed work days, reduced work hours, and reduced job performance (Jones et al., 2019). Increased healthcare costs are another possible consequence whereby healthcare disparities lead to higher healthcare costs. Individuals who do not receive adequate healthcare, like preventive care services, may require more costly treatments and interventions later.
Pros and Cons of Increasing Cultural Competency as a Solution to Healthcare Disparities
Increasing cultural competency can effectively solve healthcare disparities by helping healthcare professionals better understand and address unique patient needs from different cultural backgrounds. However, this solution has some pros and cons. The possible pros include improved communication between the provider and patients, improved treatment outcomes, and reduced healthcare disparities after removing the cultural barrier (Brottman et al., 2020). The cons of enhancing the cultural competency of healthcare workers include the utilization of significant time and resources to train professionals and limited impact if not accompanied by other systemic changes like addressing structural inequities in the healthcare system.
Ethical Principles if Cultural Competency is Implemented
Improving cultural competency can help healthcare providers uphold ethical principles and provide better care to all patients, regardless of their cultural background or language (Brottman et al., 2020). For instance, the principle of beneficence requires healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of their patients. Increasing cultural competency can benefit patients by promoting understanding between patients and healthcare providers, leading to better health outcomes and more effective treatment. The principle of non-maleficence requires healthcare professionals to avoid harming their patients. Increasing cultural competency can help reduce the risk of harming patients by improving communication, understanding, and building trust between patients and healthcare providers. Also, the principle of autonomy requires healthcare professionals to respect their patients’ autonomy and involve them in decisions regarding their care. Increasing cultural competency can help healthcare providers understand and respect their patients’ cultural beliefs and values, which improves patient autonomy and decision-making (Brottman et al., 2020). Lastly, the principle of justice requires healthcare professionals to treat patients fairly and equitably, achieved by increasing cultural competency and can help reduce healthcare disparities.
References
Brottman, M. R., Char, D. M., Hattori, R. A., Heeb, R., & Taff, S. D. (2020). Toward cultural competency in health care: a scoping review of the diversity and inclusion education literature. Academic Medicine, 95(5), 803-813. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000002995
Jones, N. L., Gilman, S. E., Cheng, T. L., Drury, S. S., Hill, C. V., & Geronimus, A. T. (2019). Life course approaches to the causes of health disparities. American journal of public health, 109(S1), S48-S55. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304738
Maness, S. B., Merrell, L., Thompson, E. L., Griner, S. B., Kline, N., & Wheldon, C. (2021). Social determinants of health and health disparities: COVID-19 exposures and mortality among African American people in the United States. Public Health Reports, 136(1), 18–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354920969169
Zimmerman, F. J., & Anderson, N. W. (2019). Trends in health equity in the United States by race/ethnicity, sex, and income, 1993-2017. JAMA network open, 2(6), e196386-e196386. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.6386
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