Health Communication for Displaced Populations| Cultural Competence in U.S. Health Care: Voices of the Arab Community

Abstract

While there has been a rapid increase in the Arab population in the United States, health information specific to this ethnic group remains largely undocumented. This study seeks to understand the health-care experiences of Arabs in the United States, examining the extent to which their ethnic background and cultural competence within the health-care system impact their health outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Arabs aged 30 years and above. While the majority of participants did not perceive their ethnic background to significantly influence their health-care experiences, nearly all emphasized the need for increased and improved cultural competency training for health-care professionals. Negative experiences reported by participants included appearance-based assumptions, challenges in earning respect, language barriers, clinicians’ lack of culturally specific knowledge, and cultural stigma. The study identified two factors that appeared to mitigate negative experiences: Living in a diverse community and having a background or connections in the health-care field. This research highlights the urgent need for health-care systems to prioritize culturally competent care.