Cultural Competency in Surgery: A Review and then Practical Advice for the Surgical Educator

Cultural competency is an integral aspect involved in improving health care systems and training institutions. We review strategies for cultural competency to be evaluated and cultivated within a Department of surgery, particularly amongst surgical trainees.

The Cultural Competency Assessment may be used tool to measure self-reported provider competency in appropriately tailoring patient care. Patient-reported tools, such as the Iowa Cultural Understanding Assessment—Client Form or the Clinicians’ Cultural Sensitivity Survey, may be adapted to gain an understanding of patients’ perspectives.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) teams must appreciate the extent to which cultural climate and competency may affect a Department. Assessment must cover education, clinical care, research, employee recruitment and retention, mentoring and professional development, and the physical and social workplace environment. Efforts must include all stakeholders’ perspectives, compare existing cultural competency to other institutions’ and explore the impact of cultural climate and competency on a department’s operational outcomes.