Intercultural gaps in knowledge, skills and attitudes of public health professionals: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Previous cultural competence reviews focused on medical professions. Identifying intercultural competence gaps for public health professionals is long overdue. Gaps will inform training to work effectively within increasingly diverse cultural contexts.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted identifying intercultural competence gaps using hand/electronic searches: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ERIC, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL and CDSR, 2004-March 2020. Data were extracted on intercultural knowledge, skills and attitude gaps. Themes were coded into an emerging framework, mapped against three competences. Studies were assessed using validated tools.

Results: 506 studies retrieved and 15 met inclusion criteria. Key findings include: intercultural knowledge requires local demographics framing within global context to better understand culturally informed community health needs; intercultural skills lack training opportunities applying cultural theory into practice using flexible, diverse methods encouraging culturally appropriate responses in diverse settings; intercultural attitude gaps require a non-judgemental focus on root causes and population patterns, preventing stereotypes further increasing health disparities.

Conclusion: Gaps found indicate understanding local public health within its global context is urgently required to deliver more effective services. Flexible, diverse training opportunities applying cultural theory into practice are essential to engage successfully with diverse communities. A non-judgemental focus on population patterns and root causes enables selecting culturally aligned health strategies to mitigate stereotyping communities and increasing health disparities.

Keywords: attitudes; competence; culture; intercultural; knowledge; skills; training.