Healthcare Professionals' Cultural Competence in Diabetes Care: A Systematic Review

Culturally diverse patients with diabetes often face barriers that contribute to poor outcomes. Providing culturally sensitive care requires awareness of how cultural beliefs influence management, yet no standard model of cultural competency exists, underscoring the need for further research.

To evaluate the level of cultural competence among healthcare professionals in caring for patients with diabetes, and to assess the impact of cultural competence training on their ability to deliver culturally sensitive, patient-centered care.

A systematic review was conducted of primary research articles published between 2015 and 2025 that examined the cultural competence of healthcare providers in diabetes care, described relevant training programs, and evaluated their impact. The databases searched included Medline, CINAHL, ProQuest, and the Nursing and Allied Health Database.

A total of 15 studies were included in the review. Seven assessed the cultural competence of diabetes care providers, reporting moderate to high levels of awareness and sensitivity but noting gaps in communication and cultural knowledge. Eight studies evaluated training interventions, all of which demonstrated improvements in provider attitudes and self-perceived competence. Some also reported better patient outcomes, particularly among high-risk groups. However, the long-term effects were inconsistent, and no single assessment tool proved universally effective.

This systematic review suggests that the cultural competence of healthcare providers in diabetes care remains limited, although some evidence indicates that interventions can enhance competence. The findings may assist researchers in selecting appropriate measures to evaluate cultural competence in diabetes care.