UK Medical Students' Experience of Culture & Communication in Cuban Health Care.

Jacob Levi,Isabelle Erbacher

doi:10.37757/mr2018.v20.n4.10

Abstract

Final-year medical students at UK universities are able to do elective placements elsewhere, to learn about other health care systems. We chose Cuba because of its excellent health outcomes despite relatively few resources. We were struck, for instance, when Cuba made global headlines in 2015 as the first country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. And, since the UK's underfunded National Health Service is experiencing high demand and increasing pressure, we sought to understand more about Cuba's socialist health system, where health care spending per capita is much lower than the UK's, but life expectancy is almost the same.

Highlights

Final-year medical students at UK universities are able to do elective placements elsewhere, to learn about other health care systems
In spring 2018, we worked for several weeks at two large obstetric hospitals, one in Havana and another in Santiago de Cuba
We noted differences in doctor–patient and doctor–doctor relationships, compared with the UK

Summary

Introduction

Final-year medical students at UK universities are able to do elective placements elsewhere, to learn about other health care systems. Since these were specialized secondary hospitals, we cannot comment on communication norms in primary care settings, where doctors and patients tend to know each other better and have more time to discuss concerns and expectations, and where most women get their antenatal care (with many questions probably answered there before labor even begins). Communication is fundamental to quality health care.

Results

Conclusion