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Towards Cultural Competence in the Genomic Age: a Review of Current Health Care Provider Educational Trainings and Interventions

  • Genetic Counseling and Clinical Testing (BS LeRoy and N Callanan, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The increasing diversity of the USA brings opportunities and challenges for health care providers, health care systems, and policymakers to create and maintain culturally aware services. To reduce health disparities and reflect societal changes, the medical community must evaluate how it is addressing cultural competence in all areas. A focus on genomics is a particular need as the increased availability of and access to genetic testing technologies has led to a new level of understanding of human genetic variation and advances in the individualized care of patients. However, there is a justified concern that these technologies could perpetuate or even widen existing health disparities among patients from historically underrepresented groups. This article reviews the impact of cultural influences on the medical genomics and genetic counseling processes, as well as educational and interventional strategies available for health care professionals.

Recent Findings

While cultural competence training and educational opportunities are available to most health care providers, there is limited published literature on the utilization and effectiveness of these interventions. Recent reviews acknowledge the equal importance of awareness, knowledge, and skills within cultural competence training and interventions; however, there is a lack of understanding of how a cultural competence framework should be developed and adopted in an increasingly diverse society. This suggests an opportunity to re-evaluate current practices through measured outcomes research. The most beneficial cultural competence training likely occurs when traditional coursework is complemented by cultural awareness and self-reflection activities intimately woven into training and patient encounters.

Summary

Cultural competence is a complex, multidimensional process that includes cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills. A lifelong commitment to understanding and embracing culture is central to effective practice. Suggestions for promoting cultural competence within the health care professions are presented.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank MaryAnn Campion, Quinn Stein, Samantha McAllister, Stacie Taylor, and Kirsten Curnow for their thoughtful and constructive comments on this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Genomics, Illumina, Inc., 5200 Illumina Way, San Diego, CA, 92122, USA

    Molly A. McGinniss

  2. NxGen MDx, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

    Amelia G. Tahmassi

  3. Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA, USA

    Erica Ramos

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  1. Molly A. McGinniss
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  2. Amelia G. Tahmassi
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  3. Erica Ramos
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Correspondence to Molly A. McGinniss.

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M.A.M. is a paid employee and shareholder of Ilumina, Inc. E.R. is a former employee and current shareholder of Illumina, Inc. and is an advisor and shareholder of doc.ai. A.G.T is a paid employee of NxGen MDx.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Genetic Counseling and Clinical Testing

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McGinniss, M.A., Tahmassi, A.G. & Ramos, E. Towards Cultural Competence in the Genomic Age: a Review of Current Health Care Provider Educational Trainings and Interventions. Curr Genet Med Rep 6, 187–198 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40142-018-0150-0

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