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

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Disparities
• Diabetes Management
• Cultural Competence in Medicine

Background:

• Culturally diverse patients with diabetes encounter significant barriers impacting health outcomes.
• Effective diabetes management necessitates culturally sensitive care, yet a standardized model for cultural competence is lacking.
• Further research is crucial to address the need for improved cultural competency in diabetes care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess healthcare professionals' cultural competence in managing diabetes.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of cultural competence training on delivering patient-centered diabetes care.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 15 primary research articles published between 2015 and 2025.
• Searched databases: Medline, CINAHL, ProQuest, and the Nursing and Allied Health Database.
• Included studies examining provider cultural competence, training programs, and impact on diabetes care.

Main Results:

• Seven studies found moderate to high provider awareness but identified gaps in communication and cultural knowledge.
• Eight studies on training interventions showed improved provider attitudes and self-perceived competence, with some reporting better patient outcomes.
• Long-term effects of training were inconsistent, and no universal assessment tool was identified.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers' cultural competence in diabetes care is currently limited.
• Interventions show potential for enhancing cultural competence and improving patient-centered care.
• Findings can guide researchers in selecting appropriate measures for evaluating cultural competence in diabetes care.