Expenditure on Healthcare in the U.S.

Expenditure on Healthcare in the U.S. 
Describe an aspect of your own culture from an etic (outsider’s) perspective in Part 1 of the paper – United States
America’s healthcare system is considered one of the most complicated healthcare systems in the world. Even though the U.S. is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the country lags behind in healthcare. It is a known fact that the U.S. does not have a uniform healthcare system and that its healthcare system is skewed towards the wealthy. Expenditure on healthcare in the U.S. happens to be the highest in the world. According to CMS (2021), in 2020, the country’s healthcare expenditure grew by a whopping 9.7% to reach $4.1 trillion. When divided by the population of the country, this amounted to a total of $12,530 per person. These numbers are quite high but do not reveal much about the quality of care patients receive in the country. First of all, healthcare costs are exorbitantly high, and for cancer patients, this is not news that many welcome. According to the National Cancer Institute (2022), the cost of cancer care in 2015 was said to be $190.2 billion. The NCI projected that by 2020, this figure would have grown to $208.9 billion, owing to the growth of the elderly population in the country. Selby (2022) breaks these figures down, noting that the cost of cancer treatment for an individual is $150,000. These are figures that not every American is likely to afford, considering the average U.S. income stands at a meager $3,600 (Selby, 2022).
However, regardless of the above, one culture that stands out in the U.S., especially with regard to cancer patients, is the aspect of patients wishing for an active or more collaborative relationship with healthcare professionals. Singh et al. (2011) indicate that patients in the U.S. happen to want to be involved in their treatment. A majority of them want to have a say in the decisions the doctors are making and in the treatment options available. Studies on patient participation in their treatment have appeared to recommend more patient involvement. For example, Keating et al. (2010) indicate that patients with a higher rate of involvement in their treatment process happen to be more satisfied. Further, the study reveals that these patients also have better healthcare outcomes compared to their counterparts who wish for a more passive role in their treatment. In a majority of these studies, patients are portrayed as individuals with the capability to think and judge the appropriate treatment options. They are also seen as individuals who are seen to be well versed with their illness and can actively assess the instructions and advice from their doctors. In the U.S., patients appear to be more against the aspect of compliance or adherence to treatment. They do not wish to remain passive and silent even when the treatment process makes them uncomfortable. As many as 75% of cancer patients indicated that they want to have a more active or collaborative role in their treatment (Singh et al., 2011). These want a partnership with their healthcare professionals as well as the provision of education regarding their condition and the treatment process.
One of the differences between a country like the U.S. and other countries is the fact that information is widely available and accessible. For a disease like cancer that continues to render the world helpless, it is crucial to make sure that information on the same is readily available. The U.S. has invested greatly in making sure that patients and the public are well versed with the specifics of cancer. Through the NCI, CDC, and other non-governmental agencies, the U.S. healthcare system continues publishing new cancer information. Billions of dollars have been invested in helping enhance cancer research so that the country can deeply understand the disease much better. For example, a look into the NCI reveals a wealth of research that is conducted to help enhance the study of cancer and its treatment. NCI displays its dedication to different cancer areas, including prevention and treatment of the disease. With such information and other repositories offering a lot more, patients are more equipped to not only ask questions but also offer suggestions based on individual research.
Aside from the above, in the U.S., there are also stricter rules and regulations that require healthcare professionals to ensure alignment and adherence. First, there is the recognition of the fact that patient rights are not outside of the known and respected human rights. With this recognition, every person, whether a patient or a healthy individual, knows that there are bare minimums on how they should be treated. In addition to the above, there is also the respect accorded to the principle of autonomy as part of the principles of clinical ethics. Taylor (2018) considers it a crucial principle and describes it as “first among equals.” While in hospital, cancer patients are accorded the respect due every American citizen. They are given opportunities to make decisions for themselves and for their own health. The same is extended to all patients. However, it is crucial to note that autonomy is not synonymous with healthcare professionals offering choices to their patients and then abiding by the choices of the patients. Autonomy mainly entails respecting the patients enough to ensure that they are well aware of the treatment process and taking their suggestions into consideration. Healthcare professionals understand the position of cancer patients, especially with regard to making informed decisions about their health. Therefore, while respecting their position and rights, healthcare professionals help patients participate in the treatment process.
Aside from readily available and accessible information, there is also the aspect of the U.S. being ahead technologically compared to other parts of the world. Technological advancements have helped the healthcare sector to make major steps, especially in patient monitoring. Currently, healthcare professionals do not need patients to visit clinics and hospitals every time. Through wearable technological devices, nurses can monitor patients’ conditions and advise accordingly. According to the National Cancer Institute (2022), telemedicine is a major improvement that will help enhance cancer care. Telehealth, a major component of telemedicine, helps ensure that doctors are able to make virtual visits to their patients. Further, the NCI continues to indicate that telehealth makes it possible for symptoms to be collected electronically through activity trackers. Aside from the above, there is also the concept of predictive analytics that can help prevent and treat cancer. As Joy (2019) indicates, predictive analytics is a great addition for cancer patients. The introduction and use of predictive algorithms can help in the identification of potential high-risk cancer patients. Further, the analytics can help determine the readmission rate of cancer patients and help reduce the same. With such developments, the U.S. appears to be ahead of many countries. Further, cancer patients appear to have a lot more resources to help them be a part of their treatment process. With wearable technologies and predictive analytics, it is possible for patients to take part in information sharing with their healthcare professionals. In the end, it becomes much easier to realize better health outcomes for cancer patients than in other countries.
Describe an aspect of another culture from an emic (insider’s) perspective in Part 2 of the paper - Kenya
Kenya is among the most progressive countries in Africa. However, in spite of this, the country is still home to a significant percentage of low-income families and individuals who cannot afford some of the most basic of needs. Unlike most African countries, there are numerous health centers in Kenya, which help cushion the country against the burden of diseases. Currently, Kenya is striving to help ease the burden that is caused by certain diseases like Malaria and HIV/AIDS. However, even as this happens, there are some diseases that continue to strain the Kenyan healthcare system. Cancer, for example, i...