What are Culturally Tailored Health Programs (CTHPs)?
Culturally tailored health programs (CTHPs) are health intervention or health education programs that meet the needs of a certain ethnic community. Current national programs for the Hispanic community in the United States include ¡Viva Bien! and Tomando Control.
Aspects of CTHPs
The programs I researched were incredibly varied. While programs did not have a common design, below are some aspects common to most programs:
1. Use of community health workers
Community health workers (CHWs) are members of the community they serve. CHWs are trained by health professionals in the knowledge they need to run a health program. Because they are members of the community, they speak the language of that community, eliminating the language barrier and decreasing the likelihood of miscommunication. They know the customs of that community, eliminating the cultural barriers. In addition, they know the specific barriers to health that community faces and may be able to offer specific recommendations for improving health without the prompting of the patient.
2. Culturally-relevant food alternatives
Patients frequently cite reluctance to stop eating a traditional diet as an obstacle to adhering to a health program (Gonzalez et al. 2011). CTHPs provide Hispanic patients with healthy alternatives to traditional foods. Programs integrate meal planning sessions and food demonstrations, which teach patients healthy adaptations of traditional foods and healthier cooking techniques. They also share a meal prepared at the meeting to create a sense of community while allowing patients to try healthy adaptations of Hispanic foods.
3. Inclusion of a family member or friend
Due to the importance of family in Hispanic culture, family support is vital to health management (Mauldon et al. 2006). This is especially the case for women, who as mothers tend to put the needs of the family above their own needs. Inclusion of a family member or friend provides the patient with a source of support outside group meetings who can encourage the patient to care for their health every day.
4. Classes and support groups conducted in Spanish
All classes and support groups in CTHPs are conducted in Spanish. This eliminates the language barrier present when the health professional and patient speak different languages and can eliminates the difficulties present when using an interpreter, currently the most common solution to language barriers.
1. Use of community health workers
Community health workers (CHWs) are members of the community they serve. CHWs are trained by health professionals in the knowledge they need to run a health program. Because they are members of the community, they speak the language of that community, eliminating the language barrier and decreasing the likelihood of miscommunication. They know the customs of that community, eliminating the cultural barriers. In addition, they know the specific barriers to health that community faces and may be able to offer specific recommendations for improving health without the prompting of the patient.
2. Culturally-relevant food alternatives
Patients frequently cite reluctance to stop eating a traditional diet as an obstacle to adhering to a health program (Gonzalez et al. 2011). CTHPs provide Hispanic patients with healthy alternatives to traditional foods. Programs integrate meal planning sessions and food demonstrations, which teach patients healthy adaptations of traditional foods and healthier cooking techniques. They also share a meal prepared at the meeting to create a sense of community while allowing patients to try healthy adaptations of Hispanic foods.
3. Inclusion of a family member or friend
Due to the importance of family in Hispanic culture, family support is vital to health management (Mauldon et al. 2006). This is especially the case for women, who as mothers tend to put the needs of the family above their own needs. Inclusion of a family member or friend provides the patient with a source of support outside group meetings who can encourage the patient to care for their health every day.
4. Classes and support groups conducted in Spanish
All classes and support groups in CTHPs are conducted in Spanish. This eliminates the language barrier present when the health professional and patient speak different languages and can eliminates the difficulties present when using an interpreter, currently the most common solution to language barriers.