1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«In this chapter, we describe some common issues and considerations in cultural consultation in general hospital and outpatient general medicine settings based on our experiences with cultural consultation services in Montreal and Geneva.» (p. 313)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Données documentaires diverses

Type de traitement des données :
Réflexion critique

3. Résumé

«Cultural consultation in general hospital medicine can provide a useful adjunct to routine care, supporting clinical teams in responding to the diversity of patient populations. The focus on practical solutions for pressing issues in care provides an opportunity to convey strategies of inquiry, communication and negotiation that can be used by the clinical teams in their daily work. The clinical vignettes presented in this chapter illustrate how each TCS [transcultural consultation service] consultation leads to the unpacking of several different issues, which may or may not be related to the patient’s culture.» (p. 329) The author note that «[a]lthough family medicine explicitly acknowledges the central role of the family in primary health care, much of Western medicine is rooted in individualistic notions of the person. The patient’s body is seen as the locus of disease so that diagnosis can be made without systematic attention to social context. Moreover, because the patient is seen as an autonomous individual, ethical decisions can be made without considering the implications for family and community. As a result of this individualistic approach, families are sometimes marginalized in the delivery of care. Yet families are major sources of both stress and social support. In most parts of the world, families play a key role in guiding help-seeking and making decisions about health care.» (p. 321)