Buddhist Patient: Developing Cultural Competence in Health Professionals

Introduction. Today, various cultures and confessions are crossing in megacities in the context of globalization and growing population mobility. New challenges to the healthcare system emerge due to the need to provide culturally sensitive care. The study explores how health professionals caring for Buddhist patients develop relevant cultural competence. Purpose. To identify the key social and cultural characteristics of Buddhist patients as well as areas for developing cultural competence among health professionals. Materials and methods. The authors conducted a comprehensive analysis of the impact of Buddhist worldview on the perception of health, disease, medical intervention, and bioethical dilemmas. The study examined the basic philosophical concepts (the Four Noble Truths, the doctrine of dependent origination, and karma), the structure of Buddhist values, and religious practices, as well as attitudes towards body, death, and suffering. Special attention is given to the principles of the Buddhist bioethics and their potential conflicts with the standards of Western evidence-based medicine. The authors systematized practical guidelines for health professionals regarding communication, nutrition, psychological safety, and respect for the ritual practices of Buddhist patients. Results. Knowledge about Buddhist culture should be integrated into clinical practice, as it is necessary for building a trusting relationship with patients, increasing compliance, and ultimately achieving optimal treatment outcomes. The research results can be used in advanced training programs for doctors and nurses, as well as in the development of internal standards for healthcare organizations providing care for multicultural patients.

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