title: Twelve Years Since Importance of Cross-Cultural Competency Recognized: Where Are We Now?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to analyze the content and volume of literature that has been written on cultural competency in emergency medicine (EM) since its educational imperative was first described by the Institute of Medicine in 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a comprehensive literature search through the PubMed portal in January 2015 to identify all articles and reviews that addressed cultural competency in EM. Articles were included in the review if cultural competency was described or if its impact on healthcare disparities or curriculum development was described. Two reviewers independently investigated all relevant articles. These articles were then summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 73 abstracts identified in the initial search, only 10 met criteria for inclusion. A common theme found among these 10 articles is that cultural competency in EM is essential to reducing healthcare disparities and improving patient care. These articles were consistent in their support for cross-cultural educational advancements in the EM curriculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the documented importance of cultural competency education in medicine, there appears to be only 10 articles over the past 12 years regarding its development and implementation in EM. This comprehensive literature review underscores the relative dearth of publications related to cultural competency in EM. The limited number of articles found is striking when compared to the growth of EM research over the same time period and can serve as a stimulus for further research in this significant area of EM education.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Remi A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Harbor-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Wendy C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chanmugam
mesh_terms: D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003479:Curriculum; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000941:ethics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States