The Evidence Base for Cultural and Linguistic Competency in Health Care

This report from the National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University examines the evidence base for cultural and linguistic competency in healthcare, focusing on its impact on health outcomes and system costs. Through a systematic review of research literature from 1995-2006, the authors found that while the field is in early developmental stages, there is promising evidence that culturally and linguistically competent interventions can improve intermediate health outcomes. The report identifies significant gaps in the literature and recommends longer-term, large-scale studies with better methodological designs to build a stronger evidence base for cultural and linguistic competence in healthcare.

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