Cultural models within general practice training: a scoping review

Doctors training to become GPs (GPs-in-training) are increasingly working in cross-cultural consultations. Cultural models have been developed as frameworks to better equip medical professionals towards more culturally appropriate health care, with potential to improve equity in healthcare systems.

To map evidence on models of cultural competence, cultural safety, cultural humility, and transcultural care within GP training worldwide.

A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's framework.

Searches were conducted across three databases, extending to grey literature such as curricula. Articles were extracted, reviewed, and analysed according to inclusion criteria.

Nineteen articles met inclusion criteria. Publications ranged from 2008-2024, with 10 articles from Australia, five from the US, two from Sweden, one from Canada, and one from The Netherlands. The following three themes were generated: unlearning; informal learning; and informed learning. The literature illustrates that there are gaps in knowledge of what the models are and how best to practise and teach them within GP education.

Cultural models advocate for cultural awareness, examine power imbalances, and encourage self-reflexivity and learning. Integrating cultural models into health care can better serve all patients, with potential to reduce health inequities. There also needs to be an adaptation to learning in traditional GP consultations with a focus on how our own biases impact the care that we provide, and a more formal learning of cultural models best delivered by GP trainers in partnership with cultural mentors.