Ignorance as part of intercultural medical care

Abstract

Ignorance is particularly important in the diagnosis of intercultural medical care. Lack of knowledge about cultural conditions can adversely affect the course of doctor-patient communication and, as a consequence, contribute to incorrect medical diagnosis. There are various areas of ignorance in intercultural communication. These include, among others, ignorance of different verbal communication and non-verbal, ignorance about the different response to the disease and treatment being undertaken, or ignorance about the impact of culture on people’s health behavior. The effects of ignorance are prejudices and negative assumptions that cause this person to be treated objectively. A patient whose cultural diversity is misunderstood can close himself down to the healing process. Therefore, people who are professionally concerned with multicultural issues in medicine should show an open attitude and readiness to recognize cultural barriers in the treatment of foreign patients. The purpose of the article is to show the importance of ignorance in the perspective of intercultural medical care.