OVERVIEW
Breast cancer is still a taboo in multiple countries. It is a very personal illness because it affects everyone differently, and addresses sensitive issues such as intimacy, sexuality and death. Around the world, multiple institutions are specialized in treating breast cancer, and are increasingly facing multicultural patients. Every doctor must be sure that the medical follow-up is explained in the language of the patient (and based on the patient’s education), understood, and accepted by the patient, regardless of their culture and language. In fact, since some treatment prevents from having children, it is very important that the final decision is that of the patient, that it be free and of his/her own responsibility. It would be prohibitive for a doctor to have prejudices about patients (their reactions or acceptance towards a treatment) deduced from their cultural background, because they all react differently and this even if they have the same cultural background. For example, between a patient with a Chinese cultural background and French doctors who treat her, there is a big gap between the individualist dimension of the two cultures. In fact, individualism scores quite high in China, whereas it scores very low in France. Therefore, while the relationships of the Chinese patient with colleagues are cooperative for in-group, they might be cold or even hostile to the doctors which represent out-groups. Therefore, a Chinese interpreter could allow the patient to feel more comfortable and help her to confide more about her symptoms and how she is feeling. Besides, all doctors and medical institutions are subject to medical confidentiality, a set of rules that limits access to information discussed between a patient and their healthcare practitioners. The fact that all discussions and results are kept privet allows some people to talk with more ease and feel more secure. However, considering that a breast cancer affects a woman’s sexuality, even though there is the medical confidentiality, it might be inhibitive or even prohibitive for a woman to talk about her breast to a male doctor. When treating a cancer, doctors have to reach and understand the internal (deep) culture of their patients.
Hofstede Dimensions
https://tcps.institute/cultural_bridges_tool.html
OUTCOME
This case model analyse how information about breast cancer is exchanged between doctors and institutions around the world. During an interview, it was pointed out that when making new research, doctors always take a look at the international research already carried out, which illustrates the international aspect of health. A surgery team from France went to China to help out and learn more about their practices. They were imbued with different cultures and while respecting the power distance of the country and its other dimensions, they managed to exchange their know-how. There is no judgment when health is concerned, no superiority of one country over another, they all learn from each other. Besides, the interviewee explained that every person hired at his institution had to say which languages they can speak and if they are willing to help interpreting (translate orally) and translating (interprets written text) if needed.
AUTHORS
Séléna Bondu: Semester 1, Block 2, 2020/21
International Business Student – Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
(LinkedIn)
Block 2, Semester 1, 2020/2021
Ephraim Boakye: Semester 1, Block 2, 2020/21
International Business Student – Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
(LinkedIn)
Oskar Smaliński: Semester 1, Block 2, 2020/21
Management student – Kozminski University
(LinkedIn)