Authors: Dr. S. Nagalakshmi, Mrs. Pradeepa C, Ms. S. Thanveer Fathima
Abstract: Cultural awareness is key to effective healthcare communication in multicultural environments. This research explores the connection between cultural explanatory models (EMs) for illnesses and clinical communication outcomes in 350 patients and 45 healthcare professionals in three culturally diverse communities in Ghana and Malaysia. The quantitative research design based on surveys, clinical encounters, and semi-structured interviews helps measure the effect of EMs congruence on treatment compliance, patient satisfaction, and therapeutic effectiveness perception. The study revealed that patients, whose EMs are recognized in consultations, are 42% more likely to comply with the treatment (p<0.001) and have much higher satisfaction with the services. Metaphorical conflicts, especially in relation to the conception of illness as "spiritual attack" or "humoral imbalance", were 73% sensitive predictors of communication failure. A culturally adapted communication protocol enhanced EM congruence rate from 2.1 to 4.3 out of 5 (p<0.001).
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21697090
