Organize knowledge in a coherent fashion while considering language differences | Important in pretest and posttest counseling in order to develop patient understanding of service and to understand patient’s point of view Use paid and trained interpreters, not family members or untrained staff, whenever possible |
Transfer health information from physician to patient while considering issues surrounding the following: |
• trust | What are the relations of power between patient and provider? How can this be exacerbated in this specific context, and how might that affect decision making? |
• genetic abnormalities | Cultural conceptions of disease and disability differ greatly: Which is worse, physical disability or mental disability? What conditions are associated with stigma, shame, pride? |
Explain causes and effects while considering the purpose of screening | There are varying cultural conceptions of “risk”: some patients might not want basic screening no matter how high the risk of an anomaly What does choice mean and does it matter to this family? |
Alleviate discrepancies in patient’s knowledge while considering the importance of autonomy | There can be substantial differences in autonomy and patient choice in non–European American tradition: Does counseling the patient or couple alone make sense in this family, or should others be involved? |