Expenditure on Healthcare in the U.S.

Expenditure on Healthcare in the U.S. 
Describe an aspect of your own culture from an etic (outsider’s) perspective in Part 1 of the paper – United States
America’s healthcare system is considered one of the most complicated healthcare systems in the world. Even though the U.S. is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the country lags behind in healthcare. It is a known fact that the U.S. does not have a uniform healthcare system and that its healthcare system is skewed towards the wealthy. Expenditure on healthcare in the U.S. happens to be the highest in the world. According to CMS (2021), in 2020, the country’s healthcare expenditure grew by a whopping 9.7% to reach $4.1 trillion. When divided by the population of the country, this amounted to a total of $12,530 per person. These numbers are quite high but do not reveal much about the quality of care patients receive in the country. First of all, healthcare costs are exorbitantly high, and for cancer patients, this is not news that many welcome. According to the National Cancer Institute (2022), the cost of cancer care in 2015 was said to be $190.2 billion. The NCI projected that by 2020, this figure would have grown to $208.9 billion, owing to the growth of the elderly population in the country. Selby (2022) breaks these figures down, noting that the cost of cancer treatment for an individual is $150,000. These are figures that not every American is likely to afford, considering the average U.S. income stands at a meager $3,600 (Selby, 2022).
However, regardless of the above, one culture that stands out in the U.S., especially with regard to cancer patients, is the aspect of patients wishing for an active or more collaborative relationship with healthcare professionals. Singh et al. (2011) indicate that patients in the U.S. happen to want to be involved in their treatment. A majority of them want to have a say in the decisions the doctors are making and in the treatment options available. Studies on patient participation in their treatment have appeared to recommend more patient involvement. For example, Keating et al. (2010) indicate that patients with a higher rate of involvement in their treatment process happen to be more satisfied. Further, the study reveals that these patients also have better healthcare outcomes compared to their counterparts who wish for a more passive role in their treatment. In a majority of these studies, patients are portrayed as individuals with the capability to think and judge the appropriate treatment options. They are also seen as individuals who are seen to be well versed with their illness and can actively assess the instructions and advice from their doctors. In the U.S., patients appear to be more against the aspect of compliance or adherence to treatment. They do not wish to remain passive and silent even when the treatment process makes them uncomfortable. As many as 75% of cancer patients indicated that they want to have a more active or collaborative role in their treatment (Singh et al., 2011). These want a partnership with their healthcare professionals as well as the provision of education regarding their condition and the treatment process.
One of the differences between a country like the U.S. ...