Cultural Competence In Health Care Research Articles

Cultural Competency of Family Medicine Practitioners Working in Saudi Arabia: A Review Article Dr Shehla Nasr

Background: Cultural Saudi Arabia's varied population, customary medical beliefs, religious customs, and a transforming healthcare environment create a multifaceted challenge for achieving cultural competency in healthcare. Cultural competency training can greatly influence healthcare since it relates to the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of healthcare workers, thereby impacting patient health outcomes. Aim: This review paper aims to examine the literature evaluating cultural competency among Family Medicine professionals in Saudi Arabia based the healthcare workers reported barriers and training received. Method: A total of 7 relevant scientific articles were selected from various databases (such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct) for this review, based on keywords such as “Culture Competency”, “Family Medicine Practitioners”, “Saudi Arabia” and “Healthcare Competency”. Results: The results highlighted the challenges in achieving cultural competency, with confounding factors including healthcare provider’s gender, age, and experience. Healthcare professionals also reported issues related to lack of sufficient training on cultural competency, and showed their preference and willingness to receive cultural competency education in their practice. Data examining the impact of health professionals' cultural biases and assumptions on patient care was not available, suggesting an area for further research. Conclusion: Delivering tailored culturally competent care to patients poses a significant challenge in Saudi Arabia. A thorough assessment of individual training programs to enhance cultural competence in relation and therefore patient care must be prioritised. Incorporating a wider range of cultural viewpoints into future research is also essential, as well as measuring the level of cultural competency specifically among Family Medicine professionals.

The role of cultural competence in health care to improve communication between immigrant patients and health-care providers in Ottawa, Canada

Purpose Cultural competence has been recognized as an essential process in reducing racial and ethnic health-care disparities and improving equity in health care. Recent immigrants to Canada encounter a different and unfamiliar health-care system. This study aims to focus on examining the role of cultural competence in improving communication between immigrant patients and their health-care providers. Design/methodology/approach Using an exploratory approach, four focus group discussions with a sample of recent immigrants were conducted to gain insights from immigrant patients’ perspectives with regard to communicating with their health-care providers. The focus group discussions were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Campinha-Bacote’s Cultural Competence Model was used for this study as its theoretical framework. Findings The focus group findings revealed that the lack of cultural competence among health-care providers and language barriers are major issues that impact the health-care experiences of immigrant patients. Health-care organizations may use these findings to better inform their decision-making with regard to effective patient–provider communication. Originality/value This study advances the line of research that examines patient–provider communication by adding diverse immigrant patients’ perspectives. The findings can inform the design of cultural competence strategies for health-care organizations.

Cultural Competency in Dental Practice: Navigating the Experiences and Perspectives of Dentists in South Punjab, Pakistan.

Introduction Cultural competence in healthcare embraces the principles of equal access and nondiscriminatory services in healthcare delivery. Dentists as significant healthcare professionals should definitely have the skills needed to diagnose and treat patients' conditions, but it is crucial to also address nontechnical skills such as cross-cultural communication, the ability to empathize, and inclusive-mindedness. Globally, cultural competency training has been included in healthcare educational programs; however, national practices reportedly have revolved around patients' clinical competencies and thus entailed overlooking the cultural dimensions of dental education that include diverse sociocultural factors that influence how dental practices are taught, learned, and delivered. These dimensions encompass elements such as language, communication styles, attitudes toward healthcare, and culturally specific oral health beliefs and behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the experiences and perspectives of dentists practicing in South Punjab regarding cultural competency. Methodology The study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data was collected through purposive sampling techniques utilizing semistructured interview guides. The participants recruited were licensed dentists practicing in dental institutions in South Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 18 dentists were recruited in the study. The interviews were focused on the different aspects of cultural competency by exploring the perspectives of dentists. Thematic analysis was carried out utilizing the Bran and Clarkes framework to categorize data into key themes and subthemes utilizing inductive coding. Results The study revealed that dentists lack awareness and understanding of cultural competency; they also faced significant problems due to limited cultural proficiency while dealing with diverse patients. Major challenges included inadequate training, communication barriers, and cultural bias in dentists while dealing with such diverse populations. Patients recognized the benefits of cultural competency and highlighted facilitators like institution support, peer support, mentorship support, and patient trust.Participants suggested incorporating cultural competency in dentistry curricula, continuous professional development, and community outreach programs for the development of cultural competency among dentists. Conclusions The study highlighted perspectives and experiences of dentists regarding cultural competency. The findings demonstrated key problems due to limited or lack of cultural proficiency that included communication and language barriers and unconscious cultural bias among dentists. The study also highlighted facilitators of cultural competency like institutional facilitation, mentoring opportunities from peers and seniors, and patient trust. Facilitating cultural competency among dentists may result in improved patient satisfaction, enhanced patient care, and an increase in compliance, hence overall enhancing the quality of care.

Beliefs About the Causes of Alzheimer's Disease Among Latinos in New York City.

Latinos face health disparities in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with high disease prevalence relative to non-Latino whites and barriers to healthcare access. Several studies have found misconceptions about AD among Latinos that were linked to reduced preventative or help-seeking behavior. To improve understanding of illness perceptions among Latinos, we examined beliefs about the causes of AD, one of the five dimensions of illness representations from Leventhal's Self-Regulation Theory, among a sample of N = 216 Latinos. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with participants aged 40 to 64 (average age 53 years) living in northern Manhattan. Seven distinct causes of AD were identified, though participants demonstrated a general understanding of AD as a multifactorial disease. Genetics was found to be the most endorsed cause of AD, followed by unhealthy lifestyle factors. Most Latinos who believed psychosocial factors played a critical role in AD development were first-generation immigrants. No participants attributed AD to a normal process of aging, and few ascribed the disease to brain damage from stroke or head injuries. Several participants expressed the belief that environmental contaminants can cause AD, which has received little mention in prior studies. Though only a small number thought AD could occur by chance, most participants remained uncertain about the exact causes of the disease and used lay knowledge to explain their beliefs. Our findings help identify areas where educational interventions would be beneficial in improving community knowledge and offer perspectives that can foster cultural competency in healthcare.

Inclusion of Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Cultural Competence in Higher Education Health Care Programs: A Scoping Review

Abstract Date Presented 03/21/24 Lack of sexual orientation and gender identity cultural competence in health care contributes to poor outcomes in LGBTQIA+ individuals. This study summarizes existing research on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in OT, PT, and SLP curricula and identifies knowledge gaps. Primary Author and Speaker: Jennifer Fortuna Contributing Authors: Kristin S Willey, Jessica Guerra, Amanda Gross, Samantha Turner, Tara Grant, Betsy Williams

Cultural Competence Interventions in European Healthcare: A Scoping Review.

Europe is undergoing rapid social change and is distinguished by its cultural superdiversity. Healthcare is facing an increasing need for professionals to adapt to this environment. Thus, the promotion of cultural competence in healthcare has become a priority. However, the training being developed and their suitability for the European context are not well known. The aim of this qualitative study has been to map the scientific literature in order to comprehend the current state of research on this topic. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic scoping review of the empirical publications focused on cultural competence interventions for healthcare professionals in European countries. The search was conducted in eight thematic (PsycINFO, MedLine, and PubPsych) and multidisciplinary databases (Academic Search Ultimate, E-Journals, Scopus, ProQuest, and Web of Science) to identify relevant publications up to 2023. Results were presented qualitatively. Out of the initial 6506 records screened, a total of 63 publications were included. Although the interventions were implemented in 23 different European countries, cultural competence interventions have not been widely adopted in Europe. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the conception and operacionalización of cultural competence models and in the implementation of the interventions. The interventions have mostly aimed at improving healthcare for minority population groups and have focused on the racial and ethnic dimensions of the individual. Future research is needed to contribute to the conceptual development of cultural competence to design programs tailored to European superdiversity. This scoping review has been registered in OSF and is available for consultation.

Analyzing the Role of Language and Religion in Culturally Competent Healthcare: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

Cultural competence in healthcare refers to the ability of providers and organizations to effectively deliver healthcare services that meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients. The current interdisciplinary approach aims to elucidate the critical roles of language and religion in healthcare, focusing on their impact on communication, patient satisfaction, health literacy, and cultural competence in healthcare delivery. Through meticulous analysis of academic databases, health organization reports, and religious institution publications, this literature review consolidates findings from few peer-reviewed articles published in English. Findings reveal that effective healthcare communication is significantly hampered by language barriers, leading to risks of misdiagnoses, improper treatments, and diminished patient satisfaction. The review highlights the indispensable roles of language and religious competence in healthcare, advocating for their integration into healthcare practice, education, and policy to enhance the quality and cultural competence of healthcare delivery for diverse patient populations. Future research should continue to explore and expand on these findings, contributing to the development of practical strategies and theoretical frameworks supporting culturally competent healthcare.

Undue Burden the Medical School Application Process Places on Low-Income Latinos

Undue Burden the Medical School Application Process Places on Low-Income Latinos

Navigating cultural diversity and conversation barriers in palliative care: a mini review

Navigating cultural diversity while providing palliative care is crucial to ensure that healthcare providers offer their patients the best possible care. Palliative care is increasingly confronted with cultural diversity. To achieve quality care, clinicians must be culturally competent and receive cross-cultural training. Culturally competent clinicians are those who adhere to organizational policies, undergo cross-culture training, and utilize the latest advances to enhance communication, improve health outcomes, and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. Objective: The main aim of this review is to understand the complexities and challenges associated with navigating cultural diversity in palliative care. This entails recognizing and addressing religious beliefs, family roles, and other culturally rooted practices and perceptions that could influence the delivery of palliative care. Findings: Various cultural barriers have been identified that healthcare providers face, including communication barriers, religious beliefs, family roles, beliefs about suffering and pain, alternative medicines, trust in healthcare providers, radical and ethnic bias, and gender bias. Technological advances, organizational policies, and targeted education can mitigate these cultural and cross-cultural communication barriers. Enhanced training fosters understanding and ensures that diverse populations receive respectful end-of-life and palliative care. Such strategies promote trust, enhance patient-provider relationships, and lead to improved health outcomes. Conclusion: Navigating cultural diversity in palliative care is crucial. Despite the presence of various technological advancements, the ongoing necessity for healthcare providers to possess cultural competence and sensitivity remains evident. Continuous training, education, and heightened awareness are essential. The implementation of IA tools, revisions to organizational policies, and the enhancement of medical training can contribute to achieving cultural competence in healthcare. Looking ahead, we aspire to see improved personalized care that harmonizes medical expertise with cultural understanding, ultimately reducing disparities and elevating care standards universally.

Need for Widely Applicable Cultural Competencies in the Healthcare of Humans and Animals

This entry discusses the importance of cultural competence in the healthcare of humans and animals, its challenges, its mixed research results, and the need for widely applicable competencies. Although there is research evidence showing that cultural competence is linked with patient satisfaction, better doctor–patient relationships, adherence to therapy, and to some extent, better health outcomes, there is a huge variety of models and competencies in the literature, which has sometimes resulted in inclusive outcomes, confusion as to what constitutes the necessary competencies, and patchy implementation. In spite of the development of cultural competence in human healthcare, its implementation in veterinary medicine remains poor. On this note, the aims of this entry are to provide a brief overview of the cultural competence in healthcare and veterinary medicine and education, to outline the important facts, and to highlight the need for more standardisation in implementing and testing widely applicable cultural competencies for both human and veterinary healthcare.

The Culturally Competent Healthcare Professional: The RESPECT Competencies from a Systematic Review of Delphi Studies

Background: In the existing literature, there are many guidelines regarding cultural competencies for healthcare professionals and many instruments aiming to measure cultural competence. However, there is no consensus on which core cultural competencies are necessary for healthcare professionals. Aim and Methods: This study employed the PRISMA 2020 statement to systematically review Delphi studies and identify the core cultural competencies on which experts, who have been working with diverse populations in the fields of healthcare and allied healthcare, have reached a consensus. For this purpose, we searched, retrieved, and reviewed all Delphi studies conducted between 2000 and 2022 in the databases Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, and PsycInfo and coded and synthesised the results qualitatively. Results: The systematic search resulted in 15 Delphi studies that met eligibility criteria and in which 443 experts from 37 different countries around the globe had participated. The review of these Delphi studies showed that the core competencies necessary for healthcare professionals to ensure that they provide culturally congruent care were: Reflect, Educate, Show Interest and Praise, Empathise, and Collaborate for Therapy. Discussion and Conclusion: These competencies make the abbreviation and word RESPECT, which symbolically places emphasis on respect as the overarching behaviour for working effectively with diversity. The study also provides a new, comprehensive definition of the cultural competence of healthcare professionals and opens new directions in formulating standardised guidelines and research in cultural competence in healthcare and allied healthcare.

Abstract 5533: Providing culturally responsible health care to Pacific Islander communities: The creation of a cultural competency training for healthcare professionals

Abstract Cultural competency is the ability to respectfully engage, understand, and communicate through conscientious interaction, enabling effective work and meaningful relationships in cross-cultural situations. Cultural competency recognizes the importance for organizations of participants’ diverse social and cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors, and has gained attention because it can bridge health perspectives, understanding, and respect between health professionals and patients. There remains a need for cultural competency in healthcare as disparities persist across the U.S. in racial and ethnic minority groups who experience worse health outcomes and lower healthcare quality than the general public. Therefore, a cultural competency training curriculum was created using various resources to improve interactions between Pacific Islander patients and healthcare professionals. This training helps to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare by encouraging mutual understanding and improving patient satisfaction, adherence to medical instructions, and overall health outcomes by highlighting patient-centered care as a result of utilizing components of cultural competency. To improve patient experiences in Hawai’i, healthcare professionals need the tools to better interact with patients from different cultures, such as Pacific Islanders. This training provides healthcare professionals with culturally-based content for improving cultural competence techniques for interacting with Pacific Island patients. This training was pilot tested with key stakeholders from community organizations and Cancer Center faculty/staff. Local health clinics, providers, and practices will have the opportunity to participate in this training through a Zoom-based electronic training format and be provided with three continuing medical education credits. The initial delivery of the training was intended for in-person sessions; however, a virtual format was adapted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing regulations. Healthcare providers are provided pre-training resources, a pre- and post-test, and a course evaluation to determine the validity of training objectives. To date, two Federally Qualified Health Centers have been provided the training, n=60, as well as one Cancer Health Equity Partnerships’ Scientific Workshop, n=40. For attendees, the analysis of correct responses from the pretest to post-test showed a significant improvement on 6 of the 12 questions. Respondents also agreed that the training resources aligned with the course objectives. Improved patient interactions from this training can help support better patient outcomes, adherence to medical advice regarding cancer screenings, and many other aspects of improving health equity for Pacific Islanders. Citation Format: Mark Lee Willingham Jr., Kevin Cassel, Angela Sy, Munirih Taafaki, Tressa P. Diaz, Angelina G. Mummert. Providing culturally responsible health care to Pacific Islander communities: The creation of a cultural competency training for healthcare professionals. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5533.

The rise of racial minority health apps

The rise of racial minority health apps

Cultural Competency in Healthcare

Healthcare must be adapted to be mindful and capable of treating culturally diverse patients — something the medical industry has not accomplished, as evidenced by the ethnic and racial disparities in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. While serving diverse patients’ health and wellness needs can present challenges, it is critical to society. To be culturally competent, physicians must increase their ability to communicate with and care for diverse patient populations. Demonstrating an understanding and sensitivity to other cultures will help us overcome and prevent racial and ethnic divisions and provide better care for all patients.

Doprinos interkulturnog menadžmenta razvoju kulturne kompetentnosti u zdravstvenom sektoru

Globalization is changing the way we look at the world and affecting the healthcare sector. There is a need to implement intercultural competence among healthcare workers. The postulation of intercultural medicine was created due to the influence of cultural barriers to effective healthcare. In order to avoid cultural stereotypes due to the decisive role of human factors in management of health care institutions, it is necessary to be well acquainted with the intercultural human resource management. Population migration and globalization leads to the need for education in order to understand the influence of cultural factors on effective health care. The concept of cultural competence in health care encompasses strategies, responsible management and employee behavior and as such provides the basis for effective functioning in an intercultural environment.

Culturally Competent Occupational Therapy Practice for South Asians in the United States of America

Background: The concept of cultural competence in health care has gained significant attention in the past few decades due to increased diversity in the United States (US) population. However, studies suggested that occupational therapists in the US are not prepared for this cultural shift. Several research articles indicated that practicing clinicians are either not aware of the need for culturally competent practices or need the training to enhance knowledge on cultural competence to cater to people from South Asian backgrounds. Objectives: This study aims to understand cultural beliefs, the perception of health and illness, the meaning of occupations from the viewpoint of the South Asian clients to help explore culturally competent strategies for occupational therapy (OT) professionals in the US to ensure they provide applicable and culturally appropriate services to South Asian clients. Study Design: A narrative review. Methods: Keyword searches of databases such as PubMed and EBSCO, and the American Journal of OT were performed. The literature search identified and reviewed qualitative/quantitative studies (n = 13) and other articles/resources (n = 9) on cultural competency for South Asians in the United States of America from 2009 to 2021 in English language literature. Manual searches of other relevant journals and reference lists of primary articles were also done. Results: Analysis of the results of studies reviewed revealed three main themes, (1) role of critical thinking and self-awareness that promote or inhibit the use of culturally competent interventions, (2) prior experiences of OT practitioners with ethnically diverse communities, (3) cultural considerations such as common belief, family hierarchy, traditional medicines, and the use of educational material or therapy resources in the native language that may improve therapy outcomes for South Asian clients. Conclusion: Empowering cultural competency requires complex skills such as critical thinking, self-awareness, problem-solving, understanding the dynamics of discrimination, and understanding the service delivery systems. The background information on common behaviors, beliefs, and cultural considerations of South Asians will help devise meaningful client-centered interventions that match the social and cultural norms of South Asian clients, which can improve OT practice for this clientele in the US.

The Evaluation of Cultural Competence in Healthcare

The article seeks to stimulate dialogue about the evaluation of cultural competence in healthcare. The first part of the paper presents the different attempts to measure cultural competence in the field of healthcare and critically analyses the problems that arise concerning the use of instruments that measure the cultural competence of health providers. The second part of the article focuses on the evaluation process of the first cultural competence educational programme for healthcare workers in Slovenia, serving as an example to demonstrate the importance of complementing quantitative methods with qualitative ones and to emphasize the need to shift the focus from measuring the cultural competence of individual healthcare workers to the evaluation of educator performances, patient perspectives, and the cultural competence of healthcare institutions as a whole.

Interprofessional Communication-A Call for More Education to Ensure Cultural Competency in the Context of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine.

Culturally appropriate communication between healthcare professionals and with patients is widely recognised as a cornerstone of high quality, patient-centred care. The widespread use of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) necessitates that patient-centre communication and cultural competency in healthcare extends beyond race, ethnicity, and languages spoken to also include an awareness of, and respect for the diverse range of healthcare practices, paradigms, and lexicons that patients and practitioners use. Education can equip practitioners with the necessary communication skills and expand their knowledge about the therapies and practices that patients are accessing. In this viewpoint essay, we aim to 1) emphasise the importance of respectful, culturally competent interprofessional communication and collaboration that mutually supports patients’ care needs; 2) note the impact of a political agenda that perpetuates medical hegemony and has discriminated against, and marginalised TCIM practitioners and the people who use these services; and 3) highlight the importance of educational initiatives that support inclusive, culturally competent, interprofessional communication and collaboration between conventional and TCIM healthcare practitioners.

Opportunities from Covid-19 Pandemic: Strategies to Transform On-Site to Remote Community Clinical Experience

Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect lives. This evidence-based strategy describes pathways to address the crisis and meet goals of undergraduate baccalaureate nursing education. Impact of the pandemic on clinical site availability provided opportunities to revise the maternity clinical course from direct on-site clinical to a clinical course with multiple modalities including small-group hospital clinical, faculty-facilitated remote clinical days, and written assignments. The design incorporated adult learning principles. This presentation illustrates transformation of the “Community Clinical Education Day” from on-site activities to remote virtual experiences. Teaching strategies that successfully fulfilled requirements of maternity clinical course, components of the eight-hour offering, and effectiveness of a multimodal clinical course compared to a traditional clinical course are described. Objectives: To identify mission, services, and population of community agencies and to develop education offerings for target population Format: Live remote faculty presentation on community-based health promotion; assessment, values, and beliefs; social and health-related issues affecting women; cultural competence in healthcare; and health literacy. Students independently review agency websites, and in small groups develop client education materials on assigned topics. Students reconvene remotely to present teaching projects. Implications: Changes from traditional methods of on-site community clinical education to remote model with multiple modalities of instruction reflect adult learning principles, enhance student engagement, and provide templates for educators. Evaluations of remote community clinical demonstrate completion of course objectives and positive student and faculty perceptions of the experience. The effectiveness of a remote multimodal course compared to traditional course provides a model for adaptation of clinical courses.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A strategic priority for the American Pediatric Surgical Association

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A strategic priority for the American Pediatric Surgical Association