Document Type
Full Length Article
Abstract
Curanderismo, a traditional healing practice in the Hispanic community, presents a possible opportunity to improve healthcare access and outcomes for Hispanic patients in the United States. However, careful planning and attention to safety and efficacy would be necessary when integrating these practices into the healthcare system. Despite the challenges, this paper argues that the potential benefits warrant consideration. Primary reasons for integration include the presence of significant Hispanic populations that may benefit, more culturally competent and therapeutic care, and improved communication between healthcare providers and Hispanic patients. Research articles and journalistic pieces were analyzed for this paper. The evidence showed limited direct health benefits from curanderismo and other traditional modes of medicine, but the cultural and spiritual element provided for Hispanic communities had a therapeutic effect. Concerns are also examined, primarily the endorsement of possibly dangerous practices by the U.S. healthcare system for individuals leading to potentially poorer health outcomes. The conclusion drawn from this paper is that integration could still be advantageous. However, it may prove challenging to implement due to various factors and should be examined in study groups or pilot programs before attempting on a larger scale.
Academic Department
School of Nursing
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Cutshall, Chloe
(2024)
"The Case for Curanderismo: A Path to Culturally Competent Healthcare for Hispanic Populations in the U.S.,"
The Agora: Vol. 2, Article 8.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.nmsu.edu/the-agora/vol2/iss1/8