Journal of general internal medicine
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To determine the association of patients' ratings of the patient-physician relationship with physicians' self-reported cultural competence (CC). ⋯ Attitudinal and behavioral components of CC are important to developing higher quality, participative relationships between patients and their physicians.
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Although past studies have highlighted the importance of patient-provider communication about sexual health and intimate relationships (SHIR), much of the research has focused on young women's or married women's experiences when discussing SHIR with their providers. ⋯ Some women felt that providers should ask about SHIR only if questions relate to an associated health problem (e.g. sexually transmitted infection). When providers do ask questions about SHIR, they should do so in ways that can be answered by all women regardless of partnering status, and follow questions with non-judgmental discussions.
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Older African Americans are often under diagnosed and under treated for depression. Given that older African Americans are more likely than whites to identify spirituality as important in depression care, we sought to understand how spirituality may play a role in the way they conceptualize and deal with depression in order to inform possible interventions aimed at improving the acceptability and effectiveness of depression treatment. ⋯ The older African Americans in this study described an intrinsically spiritual explanatory model of depression. Addressing spirituality in the clinical encounter may lead to improved detection of depression and treatments that are more congruent with patient's beliefs and values.
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Genetic variation research (GVR) may raise concerns about misuse of information and discrimination. Seemingly contradictory positive views about GVR have also been reported. ⋯ Open-ended questions about GVR were unlikely to spontaneously generate "negative" responses. In contrast, when presented specific examples of potentially negative implications, more respondents agreed, and minorities were more likely to express concerns. This suggests that while participants appear generally positive about GVR, their inability to articulate views regarding these complex concepts may require that researchers engage lay audiences, ensure accurate understanding, and provide them with language to express concerns.
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African-American women have had higher rates of female sterilization compared to white women since its emergence as a contraceptive method. The reasons underlying this observed racial difference are unknown. ⋯ Socio-cultural differences may help explain why black and white women choose different contraceptive methods.