Social Determinants of Health: Cultural Competence Is Not Enough

In our nation of rapidly growing diversity and increasing cross-cultural interactions, cultural competence has been recognized as critical for reducing health disparities and improving access to high-quality health care. However, more than a decade of experience in establishing, developing, and implementing cultural immersion programs for nursing students in the United States and in developing countries has convinced this scholar that although cultural competence is of critical importance, many other factors need to be examined and kept in mind as we continue to take on the monumental challenge of eliminating health disparities. This article presents the background and context of current efforts to eliminate health disparities and points out some other key considerations that will be vital in achieving the desired outcome.