Blackwell Reference Online

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It is widely recognized that cultural norms, values, beliefs, and practices vary among population sub-groups, and influence how members of a group seek, understand, process, communicate, and act upon information about health. Ignoring these cultural differences during health and medical system interactions can have serious consequences that lead to or exacerbate disparities in health status between population sub-groups. Critical reviews examining the relationship between cultural competence and health disparities recommend a wide range of communication-based strategies to help eliminate disparities (→  Health Disparities, Communication in ), including improved patient–provider communication, interpreter services, →  health literacy enhancement, clearer signage and forms, and culturally appropriate health education materials and health promotion and disease prevention programs ( Brach & Fraser 2000 ; Betancourt et al. 2003 ; Institute of Medicine 2004). Yet surprisingly little is known about whether, or the extent to which, taking culture into account in such planned health communication efforts increases their effectiveness (→  Culture: Definitions and Concepts ). A 2002 Institute of Medicine report on health communication strategies for diverse populations concluded that there is an urgent need for comparative studies of the effects of health communication interventions ... log in or subscribe to read full text