Increasing Equity in Pain Management, Substance Use Disorder Treatment, and Linkages to CARE

STRATEGY: Practice Cultural Humility

What is cultural humility? Cultural humility refers to an active and ongoing process of learning from, honoring, and relating respectfully to people from all cultures, as well as reflecting on one’s own culture and beliefs and how those may impact care. Culture is inclusive of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, country of origin, as well as many other characteristics. To practice cultural humility is to cultivate openness and self-awareness, and to engage in critical self-reflection while interacting with people from diverse cultures. Applying a cultural humility lens to healthcare also means being mindful of intersecting cultures and identities, and the associated historical oppressions and traumas for people who hold those identities. Ultimately, engaging in the process of cultural humility can reduce the power imbalance between provider and patient, increase patient trust in healthcare, strengthen the partnership with the patient, and even strengthen collaboration within the care team. 8,9 How is cultural humility different from cultural competency? Cultural competency refers to learning about the beliefs and values of different cultures in order to provide care that aligns with those beliefs and values. To become competent, however, this framework makes the

Kevonya Elzia explains how being mindful of intersectionality is a form of practicing cultural humility and is necessary for a trusting relationship between patient and provider.

8 Lekas H-M, Pahl K, Fuller Lewis C. Rethinking cultural competence: Shifting to cultural humility. Health Serv Insights. 2020;13:1178632920970580. 9 Foronda CL, Baptiste D, Reinholdt MM, Ousman K. Cultural humility. J Transcul Nurs. 2016;27:210-17.

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