Research Corner Evidence Regarding Cultural Competency

Cultural competence is the willingness and ability of a system to value the importance of culture in the delivery of services to all segments of the population. It is the use of a systems perspective which values differences and is responsive to diversity at all levels of an organization i.e., policy, governance, administrative, workforce, provider, and consumer/client. (CEO Services, 2001) Cultural competence involves providing quality services to underserved racial/ethnic groups by valuing differences and integrating cultural attitudes, beliefs, and practices into all aspects of care. The only way to achieve quality culturally appropriate care is to provide an opportunity for 1. education 2. self-assessment, and 3. credible systems within the clinical setting that encour-age such competence and are responsive to cultural differences