The Mistake That Made Me a Better Provider

3 Reasons Cultural Competency is Key to Digital Health Literacy

As we near the first anniversary of Enhance Black Women's Health (EBWH), I've reflected on how my previous health coaching business helped make this new venture successful. As a health coach, I stumbled upon a profound realization that would shape my mission to create EBWH and revolutionize healthcare for Black women. The catalyst for this transformation was Julia, a Black woman in her 60s who entrusted me with her health journey. Julia's decision to work with me wasn't solely based on our shared identity but on a more profound connection – she knew I would see her, hear her, and genuinely understand her unique needs.

This experience taught me a powerful lesson in cultural competency, the cornerstone of empathy, transformation, and inclusivity in healthcare. Cultural competency is not just a buzzword; it's a fundamental aspect of providing quality healthcare, especially to historically marginalized communities. For healthcare providers, understanding the cultural nuances that influence health and healthcare is pivotal in establishing meaningful connections with clients. 

Lack of cultural competency is why digital platforms like EBWH must exist. 

In today's rapidly advancing digital landscape, healthcare is no longer confined to traditional brick-and-mortar settings. Integrating technology into healthcare, known as digital health, offers immense potential to bridge gaps and enhance accessibility. However, cultural competency plays a pivotal role in realizing this potential.

Healthcare providers must recognize that Black women, like any other demographic, are not a monolithic group. Digital health solutions must be tailored to consider cultural factors influencing how individuals engage with technology, access information, and make health-related decisions. From language preferences to historical mistrust of the healthcare system, these cultural considerations impact the success of digital health interventions. Let's dive deeper into why. 

3 Reasons Cultural Competency is Key to Digital Health Literacy

#1. It Helps Us Tailor Digital Health Solutions

Cultural competency allows healthcare providers to tailor digital health solutions to meet the diverse needs of Black women. Whether creating educational materials in multiple languages or designing apps that resonate with different cultural perspectives, customization is critical to promoting engagement and understanding.

For example, working with my client Julia helped me become more intentional about considering my community's diverse food preferences and lifestyles. When creating digital content, I didn't solely share recipes from those who practiced a Mediterranean diet. Instead, I intentionally shared recipes from my favorite food bloggers that incorporated more culturally preferred foods into their meals. By doing so, my community ensured their cultural dishes were part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

#2. It Helps Us Build Trust and Overcome Mistrust

Due to a historical mistrust of the healthcare system that is rooted in systemic inequalities, there is going to be some hesitation from our communities to adopt some digital health practices. Cultural competency is essential because it enables healthcare providers to acknowledge this mistrust and work towards rebuilding trust. That requires ensuring that digital health interventions are seen as genuine tools for improvement rather than another layer of systemic neglect.

For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare providers couldn't see their clients in person. Therefore, they needed to move to digital platforms and convince their skeptical clients that their private healthcare information would be safe. It was also important for providers to ensure their clients' care was still high quality. Even though there was hesitation from many clients at first, years later, many clients still chose to utilize digital platforms even though they could now visit providers in person. Taking the initiative to build trust can profoundly impact our client's health outcomes. 

#3, Helps Us Promote Inclusivity

Despite the political attacks on inclusivity, we all know that inclusive digital health solutions recognize the various socio-cultural factors influencing health behaviors. Multiple factors outside a healthcare provider's control will impact our clients' behaviors, from cultural to religious beliefs. Hence, it becomes essential that healthcare providers create an environment where Black women feel seen, heard, and understood.

As an example, some families may lead toward a more holistic healthcare model and choose not to utilize medications. Providers need to navigate those conversations with care if that is the case. That means we should do our due diligence to educate them about the pros and cons. It's ultimately our clients' decision what they choose, and we must respect it. 

Remember that cultural competency is not a one-size-fits-all concept. 

Cultural competency requires us to learn, understand, and adapt as we go continuously. By embracing cultural competency in digital health, healthcare providers can pave the way for a more empathetic, inclusive, and transformative healthcare system for Black women. The journey starts with acknowledging the importance of cultural factors and ends with a collective commitment to revolutionize healthcare practices. Today, I share the first step, and I'm sharing the next in a few weeks. 

Join Me at the Black Women's Health Conference

I invite you to join me at the Black Women's Health Conference in New Orleans, LA, on Saturday, Feb 17, 2024. This conference is an opportunity to learn and a platform for collaboration and dialogue. I'm hosting the workshop, From Ancestors to Algorithms: Black Women and Digital Health Literacy. In that workshop, I'll show how heightened digital health literacy can be a compass for making informed decisions that yield equitable healthcare outcomes for Black women. If you're ready to delve deeper into the transformative power of cultural competency in promoting digital health literacy for Black women, save your spot today at https://bwhconference.com/

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