Addressing Appalachian Health Disparities: Applying Madeleine Leininger\u27s Culture Care Theory to Health Care in Appalachia

The Appalachian region has long experienced economic, social, and health disparities compared to the rest of the United States. While many factors underlie these disparities, one often-overlooked component is the cultural disconnect between health care provider and patient. In rural, underserved mountain areas, healthcare providers have often been recruited from outside the region or even from outside the country. Frequently, these providers are negatively influenced by stereotypes of the people who live in the Appalachian region. Providing specific training for health care providers concerning the culture, values, beliefs and communication issues of native Appalachian patients would be very helpful in improving communication and the interactions between health care providers and patients, thereby improving health outcomes. Applying Madeline Leininger’s Culture Care Theory to health care in the Appalachian region, will improve communication between provider and patient. Research has shown that poor provider-patient communication is one of the causes of health disparities. The Appalachian region has the highest rate of health disparities in the nation. The social determinates of health have been addressed for many years in order to improve health disparities without much progress. Wehbe-Alamah (2018) states, “when clients receive nursing care that is individually tailored to their cultural beliefs, needs, prohibitions and lifeways…they are more satisfied the type of care received, more committed to adhering to the care plan, and more trusting of the nurse-client relationship” (p.11). Applying this theory to all health care professionals who provide care to Appalachian patients will result in improved health outcomes. McFarland, M. & Wehbe-Alamah, H. (2018). Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing: Concepts,Theories, Research, and Practice (4th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill