Cultural aspects of transplantation

Abstract

With population growth globally and greater access to more sophisticated medical procedures, such as organ transplantation, it is of particular importance to factor the cultural components of health and how they may impact transplant outcomes. Culture may be defined in different ways but generally includes the values and behaviors of a particular social group. Other determinants of culture include race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. Understanding the complex interplay of these components of culture may inform clinical decision making in transplantation, allow providers to provide more nuanced and individualized care to their patients, and contribute to better transplant outcomes.