Désirée Lie|Elizabeth T. Lee-Rey|Art Gómez|Sylvia Bereknyei|Clarence H. Braddock
Does Cultural Competency Training of Health Professionals Improve Patient Outcomes? A Systematic Review and Proposed Algorithm for Future Research
Albert Einstein College of Medicine|Yeshiva University|University of California, Los Angeles|Stanford University|Stanford University
cultural competency training proposed way improve patient outcomes need evidence showing interventions reduce health disparitiesthe objective conduct systematic review addressing effects cultural competency training patientcentered outcomes assess quality studies strength effect propose framework future researchthe authors performed electronic searches medlinepubmed eric psycinfo cinahl web science databases original articles published english 1990 2010 bibliographic hand search studies reported cultural competence educational interventions health professionals measured impact patients andor health care utilization primary secondary outcomes includedfour authors independently rated studies quality using validated criteria assessed training effect patient outcomes due study heterogeneity data pooled instead qualitative synthesis analysis conductedseven studies met inclusion criteria three involved physicians two involved mental health professionals two involved multiple health professionals students two quasirandomized two cluster randomized three prepost field studies study quality low moderate none high quality studies adequately control potentially confounding variables effect size ranged effect moderately beneficial unable assess two studies three studies reported positive beneficial effects none demonstrated negative harmful effectthere limited research showing positive relationship cultural competency training improved patient outcomes remains paucity high quality research future work address challenges limiting quality propose algorithm guide educators designing evaluating curricula rigorously demonstrate impact patient outcomes health disparities