{"id":5061199,"date":"2023-02-23T14:55:19","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T14:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rilatinonews.com\/?p=5061199"},"modified":"2023-02-23T14:55:19","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T14:55:19","slug":"cultural-competence-in-hispanic-heart-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/riln\/2023\/02\/23\/cultural-competence-in-hispanic-heart-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultural Competence in Hispanic Heart Healthcare"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rhode Island<\/em>\u00a0Latino News produces and amplifies stories focused on the responses to the\u00a0social determinants of health<\/a>. A key social determinant,<\/em>\u00a0Health Access & Quality is defined as the extent to which people have equitable, affordable and available access to needed healthcare services. This definition includes both physical accessibility and availability via financial means, transportation options, and other factors.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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February is American Heart Month, which calls attention to our heart health and risk factors for Cardiovascular disease\u2014the leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of death for Hispanic and Latino residents across Rhode Island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart disease causes 1 out of every 5 deaths in the U.S. In 2020, it was responsible for about 15.8 percent of deaths among Hispanics, according to the CDC<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National research<\/a> conducted in 2021 showed that Hispanic individuals continue to have higher rates of hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, and diabetes\u2014all risk factors for cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, racial disparities in heart health are nothing new. The American Heart Association<\/a> issued a scientific statement back in 2014 that called for more culturally competent prevention efforts aimed toward Hispanics\/Latinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHealthcare professionals and researchers need to consider the impact of culture and ethnicity on health behavior and ultimately health outcomes,\u201d reads the statement. \u201cThere is a need to tailor and develop culturally relevant strategies to engage Hispanics in cardiovascular health promotion\u2026\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHispanic\/Latino adults in the United States have high prevalence and awareness of vascular risk factors but low adherence <\/em><\/strong>to secondary stroke prevention strategies<\/a>,\u201d according to the 2021 study.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Rhode Island\u2019s Hispanic population continues to rapidly grow, accessible and culturally informed services and resources on heart health are crucial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past decade, the Hispanic or Latino population has increased by nearly 40 percent, according to the US Census Bureau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen healthcare providers are fluent in Spanish and demonstrate cultural understanding of the Hispanic culture, an ideal communication and emotional connection between patients and providers is established, fostering trust and empathy,\u201d according to Dr. Jorge M. Balaguer of Stony Brook Medicine<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical experts emphasize the importance of prevention and education on heart health. Individuals can greatly lower their risk for heart complications through maintaining healthy lifestyles and monitoring their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local Resources Include \u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island<\/a> highlights a variety of healthcare services available to immigrants across the state on their website<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Included on the list, Cl\u00ednica Esperanza<\/a> in Providence has multilingual staff and volunteers who provide culturally-informed medical care to uninsured adults in Rhode Island. The free clinic offers management <\/em>of chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more informational resources of heart health and its connection to diabetes, Progreso Latino<\/a> offers educational videos, screening tests, and other services like its Diabetes Prevention Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Informational Links <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n