Table 1 Stages of Cultural Competence
From: Educating primary care clinicians about health disparities
Cultural Destructiveness | Characterized by attitudes, policies, structures, and practices that are destructive to other cultures. They are dehumanizing of other people, and assumptions of superiority are prevalent. This stage occurs consciously. |
Cultural Incapacity | This stage occurs when there is unintentional cultural destructiveness, bias, paternalism, ignorance, and/or fear. |
Cultural Blindness | Involves a philosophy of being unbiased, treating all people the same, belief that culture, class or color does not make a difference. People in this stage are well-intentioned; however, it is still ethnocentric. |
Cultural Pre-competence | Characterized by the realization of weaknesses and gaps that are missing when working with other cultures. There is a desire for inclusion, a commitment to civil rights, and a desire to implement training. However, there may be a danger of false accomplishment. |
Cultural Competency | Characterized by an acceptance and respect for differences. There is a continual inquiry about other cultures and an expansion of knowledge. |
Cultural Proficiency | Last stage where all cultures are held in high esteem and there is a responsibility taken for constant development of new knowledge and approaches to interaction. This stage assumes responsibility to transfer skills and advocate cultural competence to others within a system or an organization. |