Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena

Cultural Competency

Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. Competence implies the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. Competence implies the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities.

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Classification

Broader headings

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See Also

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Synonyms

8 entry terms
  • Competency, Cultural
  • Cultural Competencies
  • Cultural Competence
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Competence, Cultural
  • Cultural Sensitivities
  • Sensitivities, Cultural
  • Sensitivity, Cultural

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Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings education, ethics, legislation & jurisprudence, organization & administration, psychology.

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Indexing Annotation

consider also TRANSCULTURAL NURSING; for issues concerning health, coordinate with SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

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History Note

2008

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Previous Indexing

  • Culture (1966-2007)

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Cultural Competency. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D054521. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D054521
  2. Cultural Competency. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-cultural_competence
  3. Cultural Competency. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5188097