The Challenge of Providing Culturally Competent Services

Abstract

0882-5963/$ see front matter © 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2008.08.004 SCANT INFORMATION EXISTS to inform nursing professionals working with children, youth, and families about the unique cultural practices and customs of ethnic and racial subgroups that can have considerable influence on attitudes toward and understanding of the health care system, access to services, interactions and communication with health care professionals, health literacy, and adherence to the treatment regimen (Fiscella, 2003; Huang, Kogan, Yu, & Strickland, 2005; Smedley, Stith, & Nelson, 2003; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). Limited information exists that serves to apprise health care professionals about the distinct subgroups that constitute the larger aggregates of racial and ethnic groups, such as Latinos and Asian Americans. For example, references to Asian Americans typically adopt a monolithic approach without referencing to the fact that within the Asian American population there are 28 distinct subgroups (Barnes, & Bennett, 2002; Hsia, & SpruijtMetz, 2003; UCLA Asian American Studies Center [UCLA AASC], 2006). The population of 3 subgroups demonstrate the relatively small numbers: Filipinos, 1.8 million; Koreans, just over 1 million; and Vietnamese, 1.1 million (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000a, 2000b, 2000c). This same perspective applies to Latinos as well. Within the Latino aggregate, there are 20 unique subgroups (Martinez, DeGarmo, & Eddy, 2004; Quinones-Mayo, & Dempsey, 2005; Smedley et al., 2003). The population of 5 Latino subgroups demonstrate the