Advancing Cultural Competence in Healthcare System: Insights on Barriers and Required Measures

Background/Purpose Cultural competence in the healthcare system is a crucial strategy to ensure the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of healthcare services. However, literature on the systemic implementation of this concept in the Central and Eastern European region is scarce. The aim of our study is to present insights into the barriers to cultural competence and measures for its advancement in the Slovenian healthcare system. Methods We employed a qualitative methodology, conducting semi-structured interviews with professionals and experts in Slovenian healthcare system. Data was analysed by directed content analysis. Results The identified barriers to cultural competence and measures for its advancement pertained to several areas, including staffing, information for healthcare users, multidisciplinary and multi-level approaches, data collection and research, communication possibilities and skills, legislative foundation, flexibility of the healthcare system, quality standards, and educational efforts and policies. Conclusions In our study, we found that most barriers to cultural competence exist at the systemic and organizational level. Consequently, the measures identified to address these barriers should also be implemented at these levels. The first step towards achieving safer and more equitable healthcare services should involve incorporating the core principles of cultural competence into strategies and policies at both systemic and organizational levels of healthcare.