Communication and culture: predictors of treatment adherence among Mexican immigrant patients

J Health Psychol. 2012 Apr;17(3):443-52. doi: 10.1177/1359105311417194. Epub 2011 Sep 7.

Abstract

This study examined communication and culture in clinicians' interactions with Mexican immigrants in Texas. Specifically, we explore the unique interplay among levels of acculturation, beliefs about culturally-based medical practices, perceptions of medical encounters, and the likelihood of adherence to medical therapy recommendations from US providers. Results suggest that: (a) acculturation predicts perceptions of out-group membership in the patient-provider interaction; (b) beliefs about complementary and alternative medicine are negatively related to medical adherence; (c) quality of care mediates the relationship between physician accommodation and medical adherence; and (d) there exists a complex relationship between out-group perceptions and adherence.

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Attitude to Health
  • Communication
  • Culture
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence / ethnology
  • Medication Adherence / psychology
  • Mexican Americans / psychology*
  • Mexican Americans / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance / ethnology*
  • Patient Compliance / psychology
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Texas / epidemiology
  • Young Adult