Health disparities and the multicultural imperative

Abstract

Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care is a crucial step toward the elimination of oral health disparities in the United States.

Background: Health disparities, coupled with rapidly changing demographic trends, continue to plague healthcare, the health care workforce and population health. Consequently, there is still more work indicated to ensure individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity, receive quality health care at an affordable price. The purpose of this paper is to increase the awareness of oral health care practitioners about the causes and consequences of oral health disparities and to highlight promising strategies aimed at improving effective communication between health care providers and the patients they serve.

Methods: A narrative utilizing key publications will explain the concept of the multicultural imperative, and its direct relationship to the elimination of health disparities including oral health disparities.

Conclusions: It is essential that oral health professionals strive to become culturally and linguistically proficient in communicating with and caring for all our patients. Members of professional organizations and academic institutions can also work to ensure that both students and current practitioners have access to a curriculum and continuing education with the intended outcome of increased cultural proficiency.

Keywords: Disparities; cultural competency; health literacy; interprofessional education; provider-patient communication; service learning.