Substance abuse treatment provider views of "culture": implications for behavioral health care in rural settings

Qual Health Res. 2007 Nov;17(9):1256-67. doi: 10.1177/1049732307307757.

Abstract

Mandates for culturally competent substance abuse and mental health services call for behavioral health providers to recognize and engage cultural issues. These efforts to incorporate culture typically focus on client culture, but provider views of culture can also influence the provision of services. Analysis of 42 semistructured interviews with behavioral health providers suggests that culture is considered by many to be an obstacle to help seeking and treatment of substance-abusing youth. Although some providers do not highlight cultural issues, others conceptualize culture in terms of (a) generalized Hispanic cultural attributes, (b) male-dominant gender roles, and (c) the culture of poverty. Recommendations for provider training on cultural issues focus on ways they might critically consider their ideas about culture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Health Services / standards*
  • Attitude of Health Personnel / ethnology*
  • Cultural Competency* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Family / ethnology
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / ethnology
  • Mental Health Services / standards*
  • Mexican Americans / psychology
  • New Mexico
  • Professional Competence* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Professional-Family Relations
  • Professional-Patient Relations
  • Qualitative Research
  • Rural Health Services / standards*
  • Social Values / ethnology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / ethnology
  • White People / psychology