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Cultural Humility & Reducing Stigma and Discrimination | Provider Handbook

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Handbook Last Updated: 3/31/2020

This document serves only as an informal education tool meant to address gaps in knowledge, demonstrate the necessity of drawing on key concepts and guidelines to improve patient outcomes, and identify resources for further learning and dialogue.

Handbook Activities

These segments serve as tools to reinforce concepts introduced in the Handbook. Each module consists of a brief video and an activity, takes 10-15 minutes from start to finish, and can easily be completed as a group or individually.

Adherence to HIV care and treatment recommendations is essential for ensuring health, longevity, and a suppressed viral load among people with HIV (PWH). A growing body of literature suggests that fears and experiences of HIV-related stigma not only affect the quality of life and mental health of PWH but also are related to poor engagement in HIV care and treatment.

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In a society where power imbalances exist between cultures, cultural humility is a working process towards:

  • Mindful openness
  • Self-awareness
  • Setting aside ego
  • Self-reflection and critique after willingly interacting with diverse individuals
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People-first describes a way of speaking that tries to avoid perceived and subconscious dehumanization when discussing other people. This can be applied to any group that is defined by a trait or condition rather than being defined first and foremost as a human being.

When it comes to illness and health, putting the person before the diagnosis describes what the person “has” rather than who they are. Using a sentence structure where the person comes first allows for this. For example, saying “people with disabilities” is more humanizing than saying “disabled people” or “the disabled.”

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Sex, gender and sexual orientation are distinct concepts, and with practice, it is easy to understand the differences between them. We also know that patients are more likely to remain engaged in care when their providers treat them with respect and dignity. Providers should have a working knowledge of the dimensions and relationship between sex and gender to treat patients with respect to their whole personhood. Complete this module to learn more about the differences between sex, gender, and sexual orientation, to hear about the impact on a patient’s experience when a provider failed to show respect based on the patient’s sexuality, and to get started with practicing gender-inclusive language in your own life.

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