Improving Health Outcomes for African American Men with Kidney Disease: A Patient-Centered Approach to Cultural Competence

ABSTRACT

In the United States, African American (AA) men disproportionately experience kidney failure, representing 16.6% of all cases in 2018—more than double their percentage in the general population. This significant health disparity arises from socioeconomic factors, access issues, and higher disease prevalence. The article highlights the importance of adopting a patient-centered and culturally competent approach to improve health outcomes for AA men with kidney disease. It advocates for ongoing research and educational efforts to enhance cultural competence in healthcare settings. By exploring current practices and the benefits of culturally informed training, the article underscores the crucial role of cultural competence in advancing healthcare equity. It calls for healthcare institutions to not just adopt, but actively implement, patient-centered and culturally sensitive care models, promoting social justice and better health outcomes for all.

KEYWORDS:

• Kidney disease
• cultural competency
• African American men
• person-centered

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

No data was developed in the study.

Author contributions

TP and CR contributed to the design and implementation of the article, and KLL reviewed the manuscript. KLL conceived and supervised the project.

Additional information

Funding

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration [T26HP39441].