ABSTRACT

In any patient-health professional interaction there are at least two people. Either or both of these may be from a different country than the one in which the consultation is taking place and/or they may be from two very different cultural backgrounds. How much does this affect the interaction? Are any problems that arise from such interactions similar to those in which there are gender or age differences? How is country of origin and/or cultural background a defi ning feature of what takes place?