Racial disparities in health care are well documented, but their mechanisms are incompletely
understood. The genetic, cultural, and sociopolitical aspects of race all have the potential to
contribute to the production of racial disparities in health and health care. The Institute of
Medicine panel on health disparities developed a conceptual model to better categorize these
determinants and described three broad factors as potential sources of disparities: social
determinants, access issues, and the health care system itself (Smedley, Stith, and Nelson
2003). The cultural aspects of race may influence each of these potential determinants of
disparities in health care.
Consistent with contemporary scholarship in the racial disparities literature, we define race as
a social construct (Witzig 1996). In doing so, we note that race is multidimensional and includes
aspects such as appearance, self-identity, and culture. In this review, we focused on those
interventions that targeted the cultural aspects of race. We also included those that used cultural
signals to develop interventions within specific ethnic groups. Our focus on culture means that
we emphasized spoken language; shared norms, beliefs, and expectations; and behavioral
customs (Marks 2005). These cultural variables represent potential targets for health care
intervention.
Racial disparities in health care are well documented, but their mechanisms are incompletelyunderstood. The genetic, cultural, and sociopolitical aspects of race all have the potential tocontribute to the production of racial disparities in health and health care. The Institute ofMedicine panel on health disparities developed a conceptual model to better categorize thesedeterminants and described three broad factors as potential sources of disparities: socialdeterminants, access issues, and the health care system itself (Smedley, Stith, and Nelson2003). The cultural aspects of race may influence each of these potential determinants ofdisparities in health care.Consistent with contemporary scholarship in the racial disparities literature, we define race asa social construct (Witzig 1996). In doing so, we note that race is multidimensional and includesaspects such as appearance, self-identity, and culture. In this review, we focused on thoseinterventions that targeted the cultural aspects of race. We also included those that used culturalsignals to develop interventions within specific ethnic groups. Our focus on culture means thatwe emphasized spoken language; shared norms, beliefs, and expectations; and behavioralcustoms (Marks 2005). These cultural variables represent potential targets for health careintervention.
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