Psychologists as Culture Brokers: Finding a Seat at the Table in Primary Care
Psychologists as Culture Brokers: Finding a Seat at the Table in Primary Care
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Issue Date
2010
Authors
Cutts, Juliette
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Abstract
The United States healthcare system must respond to the increasing disparities in the quality of care provided to historically underserved populations. Research has indicated that, unless these disparities are addressed, the majority of people in the United States will be receiving inadequate medical and mental health care within the next thirty years. Psychologists trained in multicultural perspectives are equipped to design treatment strategies to address differences in explanatory models between patients and providers. These strategies can improve treatment outcomes and make care more accessible for underserved populations. The existing primary care psychology literature is focused on how to adapt to working in the culture of medical settings or demographically specific interventions. It gives little attention to integrating the culture of the patient into treatment interventions. Cultural health psychology literature has focused on developing particular interventions based on population demographics. By incorporating the findings in each of these areas of study, psychologists can better define how they address disparities and what informs these strategies. This critical literature review proposes a model for how psychologists can establish themselves as strategic partners within the primary care system by serving as cultural brokers. Demonstrating the benefits psychologists provide to their key partners clinically, operationally, and financially will make them strategic primary care team members. As culture brokers, psychologists can make the healthcare system more psychologically accessible to underserved groups. HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment was used to demonstrate how this process can help tailor strategies for improving the effectiveness of interventions directed toward underserved groups. Psychologists in primary care settings can directly address the disparities in healthcare delivery by utilizing primary care and cultural health psychology to inform their organizational analysis, clinical interviews, and recommendations for the coordination of care. The culture and explanatory model analysis described in this review is intended to begin a discussion of how psychologists can improve care while establishing their niche within primary care.
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Keywords
“Primary Mental Health Prevention","Cross Cultural Psychology","Alternative Medicine","Health Disparities”,“Cross Cultural Communication","Primary Health Care"