Training Course on Cultural Competence in Healthcare

Module 1: Foundations of Cultural Competence in Healthcare
Understanding Key Concepts
Cultural competence vs. cultural humility vs. cultural safety.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare.
Impact of Culture on Health
How culture shapes health beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes.
Case studies of cultural influences on chronic disease management.
Bias and Stereotyping
Types of bias: implicit, explicit, and institutional.
Recognizing microaggressions in healthcare settings.
Ethics of Cultural Responsiveness
Patient rights and professional accountability.
Principles of equity in medical ethics.
Activity: Guided reflection exercise — mapping personal cultural influences on healthcare perceptions.

Module 2: Communication Across Cultures
Barriers to Cross-Cultural Communication
Language differences and low health literacy.
Mistrust and historical trauma in certain communities.
Verbal & Non-verbal Communication
Tone, gestures, eye contact, silence, and cultural differences in body language.
Avoiding misinterpretation of patient narratives.
Use of Interpreters and Translation Services
Best practices for working with interpreters.
Ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
Building Trust through Communication
Empathy, active listening, and respectful questioning.
Negotiating care plans with patients’ cultural perspectives in mind.
Role Play: Simulated medical encounter with an interpreter, highlighting miscommunication risks.

Module 3: Culturally Responsive Clinical Practices
Cultural Influences in Healthcare
Beliefs around birth, death, pain, and illness.
Traditional medicine, rituals, and complementary practices.
Adapting Care Plans
Incorporating cultural dietary practices into nutrition counseling.
Respecting spiritual and religious practices in treatment planning.
Special Considerations
End-of-life care across cultures.
Mental health stigma in different communities.
Gender roles and decision-making in patient care.
Tools and Strategies
Culturally adapted health education materials.
Shared decision-making models with families and communities.
Case Study: Creating a diabetes management plan for a patient who follows religious fasting.

Module 4: Organizational and System-Level Approaches
Culturally Inclusive Healthcare Systems
Policies to promote inclusivity and accessibility.
Health equity frameworks for organizations.
Workforce Diversity and Training
Recruiting and retaining diverse staff.
Ongoing cultural competence professional development.
Institutional Bias and Discrimination
Recognizing systemic racism in healthcare delivery.
Strategies to address disparities in care access.
Policy Implementation
Developing cultural competence protocols.
Monitoring compliance and evaluating outcomes.
Workshop: Drafting a cultural competence action plan for a healthcare facility.

Module 5: Sustaining Cultural Competence and Global Perspectives
Continuous Learning and Self-Reflection
Building resilience against bias through reflection and feedback.
Creating personal development plans for cultural competence.
Measuring Cultural Competence in Practice
Patient satisfaction surveys.
Health outcomes linked to cultural competence initiatives.
Global Health Perspectives
Migrant and refugee health challenges.
Indigenous health approaches and lessons.
Cross-border health delivery in multicultural contexts.
Sustaining Culturally Competent Care
Integrating cultural competence into accreditation and quality improvement.
Leveraging community partnerships.
Capstone Project: Develop a comprehensive culturally sensitive care plan for a hypothetical multicultural healthcare scenario