Cultural Competency and the Pharmacist

There has been significant growth of populations of ethnic minorities in the United States in recent years, with numbers reaching over 100 million in May 2007. Currently, 1 in 3 US residents may be a minority with a diverse cultural and ethnic background. ¹ To ensure that a patient's medical needs are met, it is important that pharmacists understand and appreciate the potential influence of culture and beliefs on pharmaceutical care.

According to the National Center for Cultural Competence, cultural competence requires that organizations (1) have a defined set of values and principles and demonstrate behaviors, attitudes, policies, and structures that enable them to work effectively cross-culturally; (2) have the capacity to value diversity, conduct self-assessment, manage the dynamics of difference, acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge, and adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of the communities they serve; and (3) incorporate the previously listed requirements into all aspects of policy making, administration, practice, and service delivery and involve systematically consumers, key stakeholders, and communities. ²

Providing culturally competent care can reduce errors occurring as a result of lack of patient understanding. However, being culturally competent means more than speaking a different language; it also may include awareness about other communication styles (eg, eye contact, body language) and understanding cultural beliefs. If a patient's cultural beliefs are unknown, treating illnesses may be difficult because of differences in beliefs and methods of treatment. Pharmacists and other health care providers must be aware of patients' cultural beliefs and incorporate those beliefs into their treatment plans to achieve desired treatment outcomes.

In an effort to improve cultural competence among health care professionals, several online resources are available that provide information about cultural competency. The US Department of Health and Human Services Web site (http://www.thinkculturalhealth.org) provides continuing education for health care providers, links to recent presentations, and other resources and tools related to cultural competence research ³ for health care professionals. A second Web site offering information regarding cultural competency is provided by the University of Michigan Health System's Program for Multicultural Health (http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/culcomp.htm). This site provides information on cultural competence, facts about specific cultures, and information for different disciplines, as well as research advocacy and policy information. ⁴

To prepare future pharmacists for work with our diverse population, pharmacy schools and colleges are striving to incorporate cultural competency into pharmacy curriculum. ⁵ The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education requires that the doctor of pharmacy curriculum “facilitate the development of professional practitioners capable of understanding a culturally diverse society and their role in it as health care providers.” ⁶

Hospital Pharmacy is interested in any approaches that have been made in your practice regarding programs that facilitate the understanding of cultural diversity as it relates to the promotion of medication counseling and adherence. Your views and experiences are welcome at hospitalpharmacy@drugfacts.com.