The Dilemmas of Cultural Competence

The aim of this study is to identify the current state of knowledge about the concept of culturally competent care. It will clarify what is meant by the term and will highlight the dilemmas of the concept in practice. Although cultural competence is coming into its third decade, it is still ill-defined, has no systematic framework or tool of measurement. Through the use of a literature review, done systematically, the study argues that interconnected factors such as education and knowledge, reflective practice, ethics and values, organisational contexts and policy all have an impact on how culturally competent care is viewed and delivered. The paper discusses the move from cultural competence to that of cultural humility, emphasising the semantic and practical benefits within the concept of humility. In order for culturally competent care to be optimised, specialised training, and education curricula, are needed that incorporates immersion opportunities along with dedicated critical supervision