Hispanic/Latino Patients

1. Hispanic/Latino Patients Essentials of Cultural Competence in Pharmacy Practice: Chapter 4 Notes Chapter Author: Dr. Amy Drummond

2. Learning Objectives • Articulate the variability across patients who are identified as Hispanic/Latino. • Recognize the role that extended family may play in the procurement of health care. • Specify the health care disparities that may affect Hispanic/Latino patients. • More accurately assess spirituality, illness and limited English proficiency in patients.

3. Hispanic/Latino • 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates of the Hispanic/Latino population • The largest numbers reside in California, Texas, and Florida.

4. How Is Hispanic/Latino Defined? • “A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.” • Based upon 2000 U.S. Census data, approximately two-thirds of the Hispanic/Latino culture living in the United States have identified their race as Mexican.

5. Immigration • Primarily for political and economic reasons. • Early 20th century: immigration due to political instability and opportunities for economic advancement. • Depression Era: many immigrants sent back to their native countries. • World War II: Mexican immigrants again welcomed into the United States to assist with farm and factory labor. • Since that time, immigration from Mexico has been met with various political views.

6. Communication Styles • Traditionally, Spanish was the primary language, but largely dependent upon the individual’s country of origin. • A third generation Hispanic/Latino living within the United States may speak only English. • In regions of Hispanic/Latino inhabitation that have strong French and Native American influences, French and Native American dialects may be the primary language. • Such influences have led to some being described as co-lingual. • High Context • Greetings-a special focus on the abrazo, an embrace used to greet those that an individual is close to. • Emotional--great emphasis on body language and touch

7. Communication Styles (cont’d) • During interaction with healthcare providers, people of the Hispanic/Latino culture often do not take on active roles in communication. • Therefore, pharmacists must be cautious that effective communication and understanding of the rationale for treatment occur. • Silence should not be viewed as a patient’s acceptance of treatment.

8. Personalismo • Interacting in a caring manner extending beyond the individual to their family and other aspects of their life. • The application of personalismo to interactions in pharmacy practice may improve patient compliance.

9. Interpretation of Time • Loose frame of reference. • It is not uncommon for individuals to schedule meeting times and then not arrive punctually. • When arranging meeting times, pharmacists should ascertain if they are following the American clock or the Latin clock.

10. Family Roles/Organizations • The Hispanic/Latino culture subscribes to a strong extended family system (familismo). • Males typically work outside the home to provide financial support for the family. • An important concept for many Hispanic/Latino males is machismo—placing honor above all other things to preserve the male’s sense of being. • The traditional role of females has been that of wife, mother, and homemaker. • A larger portion of the United States work force will be made up of Hispanic/Latino women in the future. • Hispanic/Latino culture subscribes to a strong extended family system. • Mexican American grandparents play a vital role in contributing to the family unit. • Great respect toward elders.

11. Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Relationships • Minority sexual orientations are generally not viewed favorably among the Hispanic/Latino population. • Strong sense of familismo. • Values of procreation, carrying on the family name, and machismo may lead individuals to avoid disclosing their sexual orientation.

12. Workforce Issues • Hispanic/Latinos born in the United States contribute to virtually any occupation in the professional or service industry. • Foreign born Hispanic/Latinos make up a large portion of the construction, agricultural, and service industries. • Within the work force, Mexicans may choose not to associate with the Hispanic/Latino culture in the hopes that they will achieve greater financial gain.

13. Relevant Disease States • Leading causes of death in 2002 among Hispanic/Latino individuals. • Conditions with exceptionally high rates among Hispanic/Latinos compared to other cultural groups. • Among the Hispanic/Latino population, conditions of which Puerto Ricans have the highest prevalence. • The prevalence of diabetes and obesity are similar between Puerto Ricans and Mexicans. • Hispanic/Latinos tend to have a higher incidence of tuberculosis.

14. High Risk Behaviors • The Hispanic/Latino culture has a significantly higher incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to other groups within the United States. • Prevalence of tobacco use in Hispanic/Latino males and females. • The prevalence of smoking is lower among the Hispanic/Latino population than the non Hispanic/Latino white population. • Data on alcohol consumption within the Hispanic/Latino population. • The rates of substance abuse do not differ significantly between Hispanic/Latinos and non-Hispanic/Latinos. • Hispanic/Latinos were more likely to report using illicit substances when compared to non Hispanic/Latinos.

15. Health Seeking Behaviors • Hispanic/Latino men tend to seek care when they are unable to carry out their occupational responsibilities. • Hispanic/Latino women tend to seek health care for the family and often place their family’s needs before their own. • Lack of insurance coverage may limit seeking health care. • When significant healthcare decisions need to be made, many family members may be involved with the ultimate decision being made by the elder male family member. This may present challenges to the pharmacist when trying to maintain privacy standards.

16. Nutrition • It is difficult to generalize nutritional intake based upon availability of local foods. • Typical components of the traditional Hispanic/Latino diet are high in intake of plantains, beans, rice, and poultry and low with regard to most fruits and vegetables. • Food is an important part of the traditional culture.

17. Pregnancy/Childbearing/Childrearing • Familismo has contributed to the development of large families among many Hispanic/Latinos. Engaging in the maternal role may be a core value for many women. • Catholicism--A high percentage of Hispanic/Latinos are Catholic. • The maternal role may be changing from the traditional homemaker with child rearing responsibilities as more Hispanic/Latina women enter the work force. • Practices associated with newborn care.

18. Pregnancy/Childbearing/Childrearing • Infants born to Hispanic/Latino women tend to have low mortality rates. • Less than 80% of Hispanic/Latina women begin to receive prenatal care during the first trimester. • Common belief that life is determined by fate. Consequently, it is difficult to proactively influence a pregnant woman to make lifestyle changes. • Within the Hispanic/Latino culture, it is expected that health care providers demonstrate great respect toward women, and especially pregnant women. • Some women prefer to have only females involved in their care. • After giving birth, some women may wish to bury the placenta. • During the postpartum period, the mother may observe La Cuarentena, a time period of nearly six weeks in which the mother limits physical activity and focuses on caring for herself and her newborn and the father becomes engaged in his paternal role.

19. Spirituality • Spirituality is deeply rooted within the Hispanic/Latino culture. The primary religion among the Hispanic/Latino culture is Roman Catholic. • Various depictions of the Virgin of Guadalupe. • Spirituality among a group of Hispanic/Latina women. • The meaning of life follows the core values associated with family discussed earlier.

20. Hot/Cold • A belief that health is in a state of balance when equilibrium exists between “hot” and “cold”. • Hot diseases are treated with cold remedies and nutritional intake, and cold diseases are treated with hot remedies or nutritional intake. • The “hot” and “cold” is not referring to the temperature of the patient, remedy, or nutritional source.

21. Traditional Healers • yerberosfocus upon herbal therapy. • parteras practice as midwives. • sobadorespractice involves massage therapy. • curanderos practice curanderisomo and are able to treat a multitude of symptoms.

22. Antibiotics • Antibiotics can be easily obtained without a prescription or other medical intervention. • A study found that more Hispanic/Latino parents felt that antibiotics were a required treatment for their offspring as compared to non-Hispanic/Latino whites. • A study in New York City conducted in 2004 indicates that in a Hispanic/Latino area surveyed, antibiotics were available without a prescription in all of the grocery stores. • Even in the United States there are opportunities for patients to obtain antibiotics without seeking medical care.

23. Pain Management • Less than optimal. • Beliefs about pain • The culture may also rely upon prayer and alternative therapies to obtain pain relief. • Cancer patients may not follow the health care provider’s recommended pain therapy regimen.

24. Role of Healthcare Practitioners • Traditional healers are expected to be qualified and interact with close, personable behavior toward their patient. • The healer is following their “calling,” which indicates a deep sense of spirituality. • Health care providers are well respected within the Hispanic/Latino culture. • Hispanic/Latinos seek physicians from their own culture.

25. Reflection Questions • How might the concept of personalismo affect the patient counseling you provide? • As a pharmacist, how will you work with Hispanic/Latino patients to mitigate known health disparities? • How will you use the information contained in this chapter to inform your practice?