Three mnemonic tools have been suggested to initiate patient-centered and culture-centered communication with patients. Beyond the use of these instruments, there are 2 key skills that are essential for engaging a Hispanic/Latino patient. The first is a non-judgmental, warm communication approach, and the second is astute probing. Once when I was interpreting for a Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latino patient and English-speaking doctor, the patient expressed to me that she felt that the medical professionals “tienen una cultura fría” (“have a cold culture”), and she did not feel comfortable sharing more about herself because of it. It is also important for medical professionals to be aware of a patient’s doublespeak as a way to share enough information but not all information to keep from being judged by medical professionals. Thus, non-judgmental probing can uncover important information that may be useful for collaborative goal setting and treatment decisions.
The management of diabetes is multifaceted and complex, particularly for populations who face social barriers and challenges. The Hispanic/Latino population is more likely to encounter disparities in access to quality health care and disparities in social determinants of health compared to non-Hispanic whites [4–9]. Therefore, it is important for health professionals to engage Hispanic/Latino patients in self-care by eliciting information that best facilitates collaborative goal setting. Health professionals are in an influential position to leverage a communication style that is empathetic, trusting, and open, setting the tone for a positive patient-physician encounter and, in turn, positive patient outcomes [18–20].
Corresponding author: Jeannie Belinda Concha, PhD, MPH, Dept. of Public Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, jeannie@utep.edu.
Funding support: Support for this research was provided by the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects at The University of Texas at El Paso.
