The Challenge of Culturally Competent Health Communication: The Role of the Pharmacist in a Navajo Community

Abstract

In the practice of medicine, effective communication can be the difference between life and death. Nonetheless, practitioners and patients often face cultural and social barriers that challenge successful communication. Health care professionals who are typically trained to conduct rapid assessments and order treatments for patients within a matter of minutes may struggle to understand the practices of a cultural group who communicates primarily via storytelling or narrative. However, research shows that an awareness of culturally competent communication behaviors and practices can improve health outcomes and create positive patient–provider interactions. An absence of this sensitivity to other cultures can have grave results. This case was developed from existing literature on Native American health care interactions and the experiences of a clinical pharmacist who works with members of the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners Region of New Mexico and Arizona. It demonstrates the complexity of intercultural health communication from the perspectives of both the patient and practitioner and highlights the importance of developing communication competency education programs for pharmacists and other allied health professionals.