Culture, language, and health literacy: communicating about health with Asians and Pacific Islanders

Abstract

The Asian and Pacific Islander (API) population in the United States is ethnically and linguistically diverse. American API patients in the most disadvantaged subgroups (limited English proficient, low income, low literate, etc) are at risk for having unmet communication needs. Medical education programs and primary care physicians need to address issues of culture, language, and health literacy when they communicate with these patients so that appropriate questions are asked, and accurate information is exchanged between patients and their providers.