Culturally Competent Communication
A young (West African, Australian, Haitian – make up any country of origin you like) girl was brought to a clinic by her family for oral care. The dental hygienist found that the child’s oral & systemic health status was poor. Surprisingly, the dental hygienist’s oral care recommendations (ie. brush/floss) were met with refusal.
The young girl’s family believed she was cursed & that any items placed in her mouth would become a danger to other family members who may come in contact with them.
What does the dental hygienist do/say?
I believe that the hygienist should stay calm and explain that she understands where they are coming from but as a HCP that it is their duty to inform and educate. They should ask them if it was okay to go over the benefits or having a proper oral hygiene regimen and the risks of not taking care of their daughters oral care and how it is related to the overall health of her body. I think it is important that they respect what they culturally believe but also give adequate education to both the child and the parents of risks. If they still refused to let the daughter perform proper oral care, I would maybe recommend that she came in for cleanings more often.
What shouldn't the DH do/say?
The DH should not put the parents in the wrong for their beliefs. They should also not try to give them one option but rather give them multiple options to try and reason with them. The DH should not belittle or make the family feel uncomfortable or push their own beliefs on to them and make them feel wrong.