Exploring the intersection of MS and South Asian Heritage: How Nurses can provide Culturally Competent Care

We’re delighted to share a blog post from project co-investigator Trishna Bharadia:

I had the pleasure of being asked to write a commentary piece for the latest MS supplement of the British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, talking about how being of South Asian heritage can shape experiences and impact being diagnosed with and living with MS. I was also asked to offer recommendations about how MS nurses can better support people of South Asian heritage who are affected by MS. It was a brilliant opportunity to highlight the intersectionality of people living with MS and how we can improve outcomes for people from different communities.

In the article I talk about the lack of awareness of MS and how that can affect the South Asian community; the challenge of language barriers; a blame culture in the Asian community when it comes to disability and illness; stigma, prejudice and cultural ideas; taboo subjects and causing offence; and challenges that South Asians might face in choosing and accessing MS care and treatments. My recommendations to MS nurses include respecting a patient's culture and beliefs, developing cultural competency, being aware of and signposting to culturally sensitive support and information, and not being afraid to sensitively ask questions.

To read the full article: https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/bjnn.2024.0034