•
Objectives
Week 4: Health Care Disparities

Introduction

Although clearly related, “health disparities” and “health care disparities” are distinctly different.

“Health disparities” refer to the inequalities or inequities in health or health status whereas “health care disparities” refer to the unequal, unjust, or unacceptable differences in the delivery of health care.

This week you will explore the challenges that face health care professionals in providing equal access and treatment when delivering health care. The programs or activities intended to develop a culturally aware workforce will also be examined.
Objectives

This week you will:
• Explain the role of cultural competency in reducing disparities in health care delivery
• Evaluate intervention programs or activities that address workforce disparities
• Analyze intervention programs or activities that address health care access issues for vulnerable populations

Learning Resources
Required Resources

Media
• Video: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Behavioral and cultural issues in health care: Health care disparities. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 16 minutes.

The scholars in this video explore various aspects of the health care workforce and their ability to provide quality care. Dr. Joseph Betancourt examines cultural perspectives in health care disparities, Dr. Angela Mickalide describes cultural competence, and Dr. Leonard Jack explores equal assess to quality health care for patients of diverse cultural backgrounds and situations.

Note: As a reminder, additional Learning Resources for the week are listed below the Media Player. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the web page to view the complete list of Required and Optional Resources.

If you experience technical difficulties viewing the Course Media through the Media Player, please contact your Student Support Team at 1-800-WALDENU or support@waldenu.edu
Readings
• Course Text: Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health
•
• Chapter 8, “Comparative Health Cultures” (pp. 154–161)
• Organizational culture and the culture of public health are the focus of this chapter.
• Article: Andrulis, D., & Brach, C. (2007). Integrating literacy, culture, and language to improve health care quality for diverse populations. American Journal of Health Behavior, 31(Suppl. 1). Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The objective of this study was “to understand the interrelationship of literacy, culture, and language, and the importance of addressing their intersection.”

• Article: Betancourt, J. R., Green, A. R., Carrillo, J. E., & Park, E. R. (2005). Cultural competence and health care disparities: Key perspectives and trends. Health Affairs, 24(2). Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Cultural competence is one method for mitigating disparate health care for vulnerable populations. This article presents the trends in cultural competence in health care policies, practice, and education.
• Article: Kreuter, M. W., Lukwago, S. N., Bucholtz, D. C., Clark, E. M., & Sanders-Thompson, V. (2003). Achieving cultural appropriateness in health promotion programs: Targeted and tailored approaches. Health Education and Behavior, 30(2), 133–146. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The focus of this article is the five strategies often used to target programs to culturally defined groups. Then it introduces another approach, cultural tailoring, that has the potential of enhancing the other strategies in developing intervention programs that are effective for cultural groups.
• Article: PATH. (n.d.). Using culture to change behavior. Retrieved March 12, 2010, from http://www.path.org/publications/files/CP_kenya_chaps_fs.pdf

The organization, PATH, collaborates with communities to reflect on a community’s cultural roots and completes community-driven projects that engage culture to promote health and are respectful of cultural complexity. This article explores some of their activities.
• Standards: The Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). National standards on culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) in health care. Retrieved from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53

This page describes the 15 national standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services for health care providers. Organizations are encouraged to integrate these standards to promote equal treatment between their health care professionals and all patient populations.
•
Optional Resources

Websites
• National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC)
http://www.nchec.org

In the News

•
Instructions

In the News!

Reminder: Post a summary of the article you have chosen AND a comprehensive response answering the questions detailed in the Week 1 “In the News” directions anytime between Week 1 and by Day 4 of Week 5.
Post BOTH the brief article summary AND the comprehensive response together. Be sure to cite and reference your article appropriately.
Again, be sure to address all of the questions in your comprehensive response that are outlined in the Week 1 “In the News” area.
Provide a hyperlink to the article that informed your response for your peers and cite and reference it appropriately in your response. If you need help with APA format for citing and referencing articles, please visit the Writing Center (http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu) under the “APA” tab for examples.
By Day 6 of Week 5, respond to at least one colleague by:
• Ask a probing question.
• Expand on the colleague’s posting with additional insight, evidence, and resources.
• Offer polite disagreement or critique, supported with evidence.

In addition, you may also respond as follows:
• Offer and support an opinion with evidence.
• Make a suggestion or comment that guides or facilitates the discussion.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments. You are not required to post these final insights.
You have completed Week 4. Please proceed to Week 5.

•
Objectives
Week 4: Health Care Disparities

Introduction

Although clearly related, “health disparities” and “health care disparities” are distinctly different.

“Health disparities” refer to the inequalities or inequities in health or health status whereas “health care disparities” refer to the unequal, unjust, or unacceptable differences in the delivery of health care.

This week you will explore the challenges that face health care professionals in providing equal access and treatment when delivering health care. The programs or activities intended to develop a culturally aware workforce will also be examined.
Objectives

This week you will:
• Explain the role of cultural competency in reducing disparities in health care delivery
• Evaluate intervention programs or activities that address workforce disparities
• Analyze intervention programs or activities that address health care access issues for vulnerable populations

Learning Resources
Required Resources

Media
• Video: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Behavioral and cultural issues in health care: Health care disparities. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 16 minutes.

The scholars in this video explore various aspects of the health care workforce and their ability to provide quality care. Dr. Joseph Betancourt examines cultural perspectives in health care disparities, Dr. Angela Mickalide describes cultural competence, and Dr. Leonard Jack explores equal assess to quality health care for patients of diverse cultural backgrounds and situations.

Note: As a reminder, additional Learning Resources for the week are listed below the Media Player. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the web page to view the complete list of Required and Optional Resources.

If you experience technical difficulties viewing the Course Media through the Media Player, please contact your Student Support Team at 1-800-WALDENU or support@waldenu.edu
Readings
• Course Text: Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health
•
• Chapter 8, “Comparative Health Cultures” (pp. 154–161)
• Organizational culture and the culture of public health are the focus of this chapter.
• Article: Andrulis, D., & Brach, C. (2007). Integrating literacy, culture, and language to improve health care quality for diverse populations. American Journal of Health Behavior, 31(Suppl. 1). Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The objective of this study was “to understand the interrelationship of literacy, culture, and language, and the importance of addressing their intersection.”

• Article: Betancourt, J. R., Green, A. R., Carrillo, J. E., & Park, E. R. (2005). Cultural competence and health care disparities: Key perspectives and trends. Health Affairs, 24(2). Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Cultural competence is one method for mitigating disparate health care for vulnerable populations. This article presents the trends in cultural competence in health care policies, practice, and education.
• Article: Kreuter, M. W., Lukwago, S. N., Bucholtz, D. C., Clark, E. M., & Sanders-Thompson, V. (2003). Achieving cultural appropriateness in health promotion programs: Targeted and tailored approaches. Health Education and Behavior, 30(2), 133–146. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The focus of this article is the five strategies often used to target programs to culturally defined groups. Then it introduces another approach, cultural tailoring, that has the potential of enhancing the other strategies in developing intervention programs that are effective for cultural groups.
• Article: PATH. (n.d.). Using culture to change behavior. Retrieved March 12, 2010, from http://www.path.org/publications/files/CP_kenya_chaps_fs.pdf

The organization, PATH, collaborates with communities to reflect on a community’s cultural roots and completes community-driven projects that engage culture to promote health and are respectful of cultural complexity. This article explores some of their activities.
• Standards: The Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). National standards on culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) in health care. Retrieved from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53

This page describes the 15 national standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services for health care providers. Organizations are encouraged to integrate these standards to promote equal treatment between their health care professionals and all patient populations.
•
Optional Resources

Websites
• National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC)
http://www.nchec.org

In the News

•
Instructions

In the News!

Reminder: Post a summary of the article you have chosen AND a comprehensive response answering the questions detailed in the Week 1 “In the News” directions anytime between Week 1 and by Day 4 of Week 5.
Post BOTH the brief article summary AND the comprehensive response together. Be sure to cite and reference your article appropriately.
Again, be sure to address all of the questions in your comprehensive response that are outlined in the Week 1 “In the News” area.
Provide a hyperlink to the article that informed your response for your peers and cite and reference it appropriately in your response. If you need help with APA format for citing and referencing articles, please visit the Writing Center (http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu) under the “APA” tab for examples.
By Day 6 of Week 5, respond to at least one colleague by:
• Ask a probing question.
• Expand on the colleague’s posting with additional insight, evidence, and resources.
• Offer polite disagreement or critique, supported with evidence.

In addition, you may also respond as follows:
• Offer and support an opinion with evidence.
• Make a suggestion or comment that guides or facilitates the discussion.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments. You are not required to post these final insights.
You have completed Week 4. Please proceed to Week 5.