Interactions between American Indian ethnicity and health care

Interventions in health care must be sensitive to the part that culture plays in treatment, recovery and healing of the American Indian patient. Cultural factors play an important part in how the family participates and copes with the intervention program. Interpreting communication and behavior from the perspective of the family's culture contributes to positive family-professional interaction. This paper addresses the most important cultural factors impinging on positive health care for American Indian families and addresses a process for assessment of cultural conflicts which may prevent positive outcomes in the delivery of health care to this population. In addition, this paper offers strategies throughout that can be used by health care professionals to assure culturally sensitive service delivery to American Indians.