Barriers to healthcare

Abstract

Stigmas are defined as labeling, stereotyping, and separation resulting in the individual being devalued and the biases contributing to discrimination. 1 Stigmatization toward healthcare has the potential to affect one's views on seeking medical care and can result in failure to seek treatment of an illness. Healthcare is available to all Americans, but some cultural groups don't seek medical services due to stigmatization.Stigmas in healthcare are often identified in Black and Hispanic/Latino patients. These stigmas can result in poor patient outcomes, misdiagnosis from lack of information, and overlooked conditions by healthcare professionals. Mental health, HIV, sexual orientation, cancer, and obesity are some areas where stigmatizing attitudes can impact the long-term approach to seeking treatment. This article aims to explain how past unethical healthcare practices in the US have impacted the views of Black and Hispanic/Latino patients, leading to consequential outcomes in their overall health. By understanding the impact of healthcare stigmas, organizations and nursing staff can reevaluate their current education on cultural awareness and develop a robust program that focuses on minimizing stigmas and employing a culture of mindfulness and cultural humility among staff and patients. Identifying terminologyThere are key points to identify in how these groups are discussed in this article. There's a plethora of information on how to describe ethnic identity, with differences in opinion. The definitions of Black, Hispanic, and Latino vary, but there are distinctions to consider. Black is commonly interchanged with "African American," which describes descendants of people from Africa who were enslaved in the US. 2 Referring to someone Stigmatization is a deep-rooted problem in US history that has affected generations of Black and Hispanic/Latino patients. By understanding these histories nurses can grow cultural humility in their practice.