Health workforce cultural competency interventions: a systematic scoping review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Medical Education
• Cultural Competence

Background:

• Cultural competence in healthcare is crucial for serving diverse populations.
• Existing research often focuses on training interventions for healthcare practitioners.
• Concerns exist regarding the strength and quality of evidence for these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review intervention strategies, outcomes, and measures used to improve health workforce cultural competence.
• To inform future interventions and evaluations in this area.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review of studies published between 2006 and 2015.
• Included studies focused on cultural competence interventions for the health workforce in Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand.
• 16 studies directly targeted the health workforce.

Main Results:

• Significant heterogeneity in intervention strategies, measures, and outcomes made comparisons difficult.
• Cultural competency training and professional development were primary strategies.
• Positive outcomes were common for practitioner knowledge, skills, and attitudes, but evidence for impacts on healthcare and health outcomes was limited.

Conclusions:

• Health workforce training remains central to improving cultural competence.
• While interventions improve practitioner knowledge and attitudes, their effects on behavior and broader health outcomes are unclear.
• Further research is needed to assess behavioral outcomes and impacts on healthcare and health to strengthen the evidence base.