Abstract

The concept of cultural competency raises questions about the meaning of culture, difference and professional practice as well as how best to address religious and cultural marginality, epistemologically and practically, within codes of ethical practice. Despite continued policy and research emphasis on delivering culturally competent substance-use services to the Muslim and Arabic speaking community, limited evidence exists about what health practitioners consider to be culturally competent care for this group. To explore how practitioners operationalise cultural competence, qualitative interviews were conducted with 32 staff working in Sydney, Australia. Differences in epistemological bases of practice were present across the interviews which resulted in a variety of ways cultural competence became operationalised. Three broad epistemological approaches emerged in the data which can be classified as instrumental, comprehensive and connection-centred. These ranged in emphasis from provision of basic education around cultural traits; a heightened awareness of difference; and lastly a focus on minimising difference through enhancing relatability. Our findings highlight the importance of fostering an open and reflective attitude towards the ambiguity and complexity inherent in drug health encounters between practitioners and culturally diverse consumers. Such openness may provide opportunities to challenge structures and ideologies that reinforce points of difference and disconnection.

摘要

文化能力的概念提出了关于文化、差异和专业实践的意义的问题，以及如何在道德实践准则范围内，从认识论和实践上最好地解决宗教和文化边缘化问题。尽管政策和研究继续强调向穆斯林和阿拉伯语社区提供具有文化能力的药物使用服务，但关于卫生从业人员认为对这一群体具有文化能力的护理的证据有限。为了探索从业者如何运用文化能力，我们对在澳大利亚悉尼工作的 32 名员工进行了定性访谈。访谈中存在实践认识论基础的差异，导致文化能力以多种方式运作。数据中出现了三种广泛的认识论方法，可分为工具性、综合性和以联系为中心的方法。这些重点包括围绕文化特征提供基础教育；提高对差异的认识；最后，关注通过增强相关性来最小化差异。我们的研究结果强调了培养一种开放和反思态度的重要性，以应对从业者和多元文化消费者之间药物健康接触中固有的模糊性和复杂性。这种开放性可能会提供挑战强化差异和脱节点的结构和意识形态的机会。这些重点包括围绕文化特征提供基础教育；提高对差异的认识；最后，关注通过增强相关性来最小化差异。我们的研究结果强调了培养一种开放和反思态度的重要性，以应对从业者和多元文化消费者之间药物健康接触中固有的模糊性和复杂性。这种开放性可能会提供挑战强化差异和脱节点的结构和意识形态的机会。这些重点包括围绕文化特征提供基础教育；提高对差异的认识；最后，关注通过增强相关性来最小化差异。我们的研究结果强调了培养一种开放和反思态度的重要性，以应对从业者和多元文化消费者之间药物健康接触中固有的模糊性和复杂性。这种开放性可能会提供挑战强化差异和脱节点的结构和意识形态的机会。我们的研究结果强调了培养一种开放和反思态度的重要性，以应对从业者和多元文化消费者之间药物健康接触中固有的模糊性和复杂性。这种开放性可能会提供挑战强化差异和脱节点的结构和意识形态的机会。我们的研究结果强调了培养一种开放和反思态度的重要性，以应对从业者和多元文化消费者之间药物健康接触中固有的模糊性和复杂性。这种开放性可能会提供挑战强化差异和脱节点的结构和意识形态的机会。