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Diversity competence in medicine: equity, culture and practice

Diversität und Kompetenz in der Medizin: Gerechtigkeit, Kultur und Praxis

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Summary

Diversity in medicine is a concept that aims at improving the health care of patients and at enhancing health equity. Ethnic and racial disparities have been documented in many contexts, thus diversity competence is specifically relevant when regarding the health of migrants, ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups. Diversity competence considers socio-economic factors in health care, as well as the influence of ethnic and cultural background on how health and illness are perceived. It should therefore be a core concern for all health practitioners and a central focus in any health institution.

Zusammenfassung

Das Konzept von Diversität in der Medizin hat zum Ziel, die Gesundheitsversorgung von PatientInnen zu verbessern und Chancengleichheit zu ermöglichen. Kompetenz im Bereich Diversität ist besonders relevant, wenn es um die Gesundheit von MigrantInnen, ethnischen Minderheiten und anderen vulnerablen Gruppen geht, weil sich gezeigt hat, dass gerade diese Gruppen im Gesundheitssystem oft benachteiligt sind. Dieses Konzept ermöglicht es sowohl sozio-ökonomische Faktoren zu berücksichtigen, als auch mögliche Einflüsse des ethnischen und kulturellen Hintergrunds auf Vorstellungen von Gesundheit und Krankheit. Die Berücksichtigung von Diversität sollte deshalb ein zentrales Anliegen aller Akteure und Institutionen im Gesundheitsbereich sein.

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Notes

  1. https//aamc.org/members/gdi/.

  2. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=15.

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  1. Unit Ethnomedizin and International Health, Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Währingerstrasse 25, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Ruth Kutalek P.D.

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Kutalek, R. Diversity competence in medicine: equity, culture and practice. Wien Klin Wochenschr 124 (Suppl 3), 3–9 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0247-5

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