Health promotion among ethnic minorities: the importance of cultural phenomena

Ethnic minority groups have varying health promotion needs, which differ according to six cultural phenomena outlined in the nursing literature: communication, space, social organization, time, environmental control, and biological variations. This article reports on some of the research available in each of these areas in relation to ethnic minorities. If health promotion is to be improved for people in all sectors of the population, it is important for rehabilitation nurses to learn how to assess the needs of ethnic minorities and to respond to those needs with appropriate interventions.