Dealing with cultural diversity during the process of communication and decision-making in the ICU: a literature review

Studies have shown that communication in the ICU is related to the cultural background of all involved actors. As a consequence, hospitals in multiethnic areas in western countries are currently forced to rethink their models of communication as they are increasingly transformed into spaces of cultural encounter. During this process one needs to be aware of the cultural differences in attitudes and experiences towards communication in critical medical situations. However, the growing academic interest in intercultural relations in the critical care has not yet led to the construction of cumulative knowledge. The aim of this study is to review the experiences of the involved actors, namely the care providers, the patients and their family members, with cultural diversity during the process of communication and decision-making in the ICU.