Cultural Considerations When Caring for Racial and Ethnic Minority Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

With the increase in diversity within patient populations, there has been increasing concern about ongoing renal health inequities for racial and ethnic minority groups. There is ample evidence that chronic kidney disease (CKD) including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is consistently overrepresented among Black, Asian, Indigenous, and Hispanic/Latino persons. This chapter will outline specific renal health disparities among minority groups as well as the underlying reasons for these disparities related to the social determinants of health. The significance of cultural factors in renal health will be more closely examined, and the argument for providing culturally and linguistically competent ESRD care will be made. Finally, individual-, organizational-, and systemic-level strategies will be shared with the goal of advancing renal health equity by ensuring services are culturally and linguistically appropriate.