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Cultural Competency

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Cultural Practices and Dermatoses

Abstract

This chapter discusses the importance of cultural competency in an increasingly diverse global community, as a key tool in delivering equitable health care to patients and mitigating health disparities. It explores the dimensions that constitute culture, recognises the dynamic nature of these systems of communication, values and expression, and emphasises how culture is vital to understanding patient’s health beliefs. Nonetheless, there remains multiple practical and systemic barriers that patients and clinicians alike may face in the process of reaching mutual understanding. This chapter therefore aims to equip the clinician with a range of evidence-based tools to surpass these barriers and enhance their cross-cultural communication skills.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Neda So & Michelle Rodrigues

  2. Chroma Dermatology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Neda So & Michelle Rodrigues

Authors
  1. Neda So
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  2. Michelle Rodrigues
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Neelam A. Vashi

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So, N., Rodrigues, M. (2021). Cultural Competency. In: Vashi, N.A. (eds) Cultural Practices and Dermatoses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68992-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68992-6_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-68991-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-68992-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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