3. Definitions
Culture
• 'Culture' refers to integrated patterns of human behavior
that include the language, thoughts, communications,
actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial,
ethnic, religious, or social groups
Competence
• Competence refers to the capacity to function
effectively as an individual and an organization within
the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs
presented by consumers and their communities
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2
&lvlID=11 Department of Health and Human Sciences
Office of Minority Health, 2013
4. Cultural Competence
• Ability to interact effectively with
people from different cultural
backgrounds by understanding
and effectively communicating
across cultural boundaries.
o Knowledge
o Skills
o Abilities
6. Culture-Sensitive
Healthcare Benefits
Healthcare Providers
• Create individual comprehensive care plans
• Better understand, communicate and
effectively interact with patients
• Encourages patient centered medical care
Patients
• Assists with patient’s satisfaction
• Encourages treatment adherence
• Promotes Positive health outcomes
7. Tips for Successful Patient
Interactions
• Treat patients with
kindness.
• Always be formal with
patients
• Don’t make any
assumptions about a
patient’s healthcare
competency level
• Allow for open and
honest interactions
• Give supplementary
health education
materials
8. Tips for Effective Patient
Interactions
• Respect the patient!
• Don’t interrupt the
patient
• Don’t be impatient
• Speak slowly, not loudly
• Avoid complex medical
terminology (use
common
understandable
language)
• Summarize and review
the information given
• Make sure the
information is clear and
reasonable
• Allow time for patient to
ask questions
• Answer these questions
with clarity to ensure
that the patient
understands their
treatment
9. Translation into Practice
• How do we, as health services staff
members employ Cultural
Competence?
o Value diversity
o Use self-assessment
o Recognize cultural dynamics
o Gain knowledge of different cultures
o Institutionalize cultural knowledge
o Develop cross-cultural skills
o Adapt interventions appropriately to varying cultures
10. Further Reading
• Department of Health and Human Sciences: Office
of Minority Health-
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.as
px?lvl=2&lvlID=11
• National Institutes of Health-
http://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/culturalc
ompetency.htm
• Center on Aging Society: Cultural Competence in
Health Care-
http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/agingsociety/pdfs/cul
tural.pdf
