Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29609614›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2018

Health workforce cultural competency interventions: a systematic scoping review.

Crystal Jongen, Janya McCalman, Roxanne Bainbridge

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 142 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
142citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

142 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Improving primary health care quality for refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review of interventional approaches.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2022
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  11. Health-related quality of life and lifetime QALY loss among Indigenous Australians with chronic conditions: an age-stratified analysis.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
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  13. Perceived cultural competence among nursing students: A cross-sectional study.International journal of nursing studies advances · 2026
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82 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Crystal JongenSchool of Health, Medicine and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Cnr Shields and Abbott Streets, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia. crystal.sky.jongen@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0003-4516-6760
Janya McCalmanSchool of Health, Medicine and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Cnr Shields and Abbott Streets, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
Roxanne BainbridgeSchool of Health, Medicine and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Cnr Shields and Abbott Streets, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.

Funding

Central Queensland University Not applicable
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAddressing health workforce cultural competence is a common approach to improving health service quality for culturally and ethnically diverse groups. Research evidence in this area is primarily focused on cultural competency training and its effects on practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviour. While improvements in measures of healthcare practitioner cultural competency and other healthcare outcomes have been reported, there are concerns around evidence strength and quality. This scoping review reports on the intervention strategies, outcomes, and measures of included studies with the purpose of informing the implementation and evaluation of future interventions to improve health workforce cultural competence.

methodsThis systematic scoping review was completed as part of a larger systematic literature search conducted on cultural competence intervention evaluations in health care in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand published from 2006 to 2015. Overall, 64 studies on cultural competency interventions were found, with 16 aimed directly at the health workforce.

resultsThere was significant heterogeneity in workforce intervention strategies, measures and outcomes reported across studies making comparisons of intervention effects difficult. The two main workforce intervention strategies identified were cultural competency training and other professional development interventions including other training and mentoring. Positive outcomes were commonly reported for improved practitioner knowledge (9/16), skills (7/16), and attitudes/beliefs (5/16). Although health care (6/16) and health (2/16) outcomes were reported in some studies there was very limited evidence of positive intervention impacts. Only four studies utilised existing validated measurement tools to assess intervention outcomes.

conclusionTraining and development of the health workforce remain a principle strategy towards the goal of improved cultural competence in health services and systems. Diverse approaches are available to increase health workforce cultural competence. However, the effects of interventions beyond practitioner knowledge and attitudes remains unclear. Assessment of practitioner behavioural outcomes as well as measures of intervention impact on healthcare and health outcomes are needed to build a stronger evidence base.

Indexed as

Cultural CompetencyAustraliaCanadaDelivery of Health CareHealth PersonnelHealth Services, IndigenousHumansNew ZealandPopulation GroupsStaff DevelopmentUnited StatesCultural competenceCultural competence trainingEthnic minoritiesHealth workforce developmentIndigenous

Identifiers

PMID29609614
PMCPMC5879833

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.