Some Theoretical Issues on Cultural Competence in Health Care for People

Abstract

Cultural competence in health care, that is, acknowledging and respecting patients’ culture to suggest ways of behaving, communicating and healing which are consistent with their cultural beliefs and desires, constitutes an fundamental factor in health care delivery. It does matters because the health care quality and satisfaction are concerned by each and all, especially ethnic minorities due to increasing health disparities. Therefore, cultural competence has been recommended as a strategy to reduce disparities in health care and improve the effectiveness of health care for people. Based on a literature review, the paper clarifies the concept of cultural competence and its relation with the effectiveness of health care for people.