Diversity Competence in Healthcare: A minimal definition

Abstract

Abstract Background Health professionals face a variety of professional challenges in today's plural societies. Sciences propose a specific skill set can help to meet those challenges. Various terms and sometimes extensive concepts are provided for diversity competence. The related learning processes are time-consuming and demanding to implement in hectic clinical realities, so that a basic, easy to deplore training package of essential skills would be desirable in order to enable health professionals to take equally good care of all patients including migrants and minorities. Methods A two-round Delphi study was conducted to prioritise teaching objectives; 31 clinical and academic migrant health experts from 13 European countries participated. A round of open questions was followed by a standardised rating round of 65 items. Data was descriptively analysed (m, M, SD) and consensus defined as 80% of experts assigning high importance to a competence. Results The process identified essential competences as well as high priority cognitive, affective and pragmatic competences, leading to a minimal definition of diversity competence for health professionals which includes respectfulness, empathy, diversity awareness and reflection, knowledge on social determinants as well as ethics and human rights; Further skills are: being able to listen, observe and communicate understandably, including professional usage of interpreters, shared decision-making and individual, need-based care. Conclusions The panel reached consensus on many of the competences. In general, attitudes and practical skills were considered essential. Basic trainings that meet the needs of professionals and help them cope with everyday challenges can be designed on the grounds of these findings. We provide a working definition of ‘diversity competence of health professionals’ for scientific exchange and investigation and propose the conscious use of a ‘diversity’ instead of ‘intercultural” terminology. Key messages