Treatment of Health Disparities Through Cultural Practices: Insights from Gesar Culture in Sichuan

Background: It is often premised that archaic and long-standing culturally sensitive healthcare models among ethnic minorities hold the potential to influence modern patterns of health communication and health outcomes. However, such influence is contingent on the optimization of these models to align with modern lifestyles and patterns of living. Objective: This study focuses on the Gesar ethnic minority in Sichuan, China, to examine the impact of cultural determinants derived from Gesar and Tibetan legacies on health communication and behavior. It explores the integration of contemporary healthcare interventions with traditional Tibetan and Sichuan cultural practices to address health disparities, particularly in mental health access and chronic disease management. Methods: The investigation emphasizes the role of cultural narratives and practices, such as those from the Gesar epic and Tibetan medicine, in enhancing healthcare accessibility, acceptance, and outcomes for ethnic minorities. Secondary sources–including peer-reviewed journal articles, institutional reports, and cultural artifacts–were analyzed using Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory as a conceptual framework. Results: The findings reveal that culturally embedded mental health programs, such as the Chengdu mental health grassroots tours, significantly reduced stigma and increased awareness of mental health issues. Additionally, the integration of Tibetan medicine into modern healthcare systems demonstrated notable success, particularly through the implementation of ancient thrombolytic therapy in Kangding. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of improving cultural competence within healthcare systems, developing a local healthcare workforce, and safeguarding traditional healthcare practices to ensure sustainable and inclusive healthcare solutions. The research underscores the necessity of understanding cultural influences to design healthcare interventions that are culturally acceptable and likely to succeed. By bridging the gap between culture and health promotion, this study contributes to addressing ethnic minority health disparities. Culturally informed healthcare strategies are essential to building trust and achieving equitable healthcare delivery.