Cultural humility: Essential foundation for clinical researchers

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Katherine Yeager, Emory University; Susan Bauer-Wu, University of Virginia
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-11-01
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Elsevier Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2013.06.008
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Applied Nursing Research
• ISSN: 0897-1897
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 251
• End Page: 256
• Grant/Funding Information: Dr. Yeager was a recipient of the Doctoral Scholarship in Cancer Nursing from the American Cancer Society; and also supported by training award, F31NR011383, from the National Institute of Nursing Research during the time that this work developed.
• Keywords: CARE; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Nursing; Culture; PROGRAM; MINDFULNESS; COMPETENCE; ATTITUDES; ASSOCIATION; Science & Technology; Research; HEALTH; POOR; COMMUNICATION
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Nursing

Abstract

Cultural humility is a process of self-reflection and discovery in order to build honest and trustworthy relationships. It offers promise for researchers to understand and eliminate health disparities, a continual and disturbing problem necessitating attention and action on many levels. This paper presents a discussion of the process of cultural humility and its important role in research to better understand the perspectives and context of the researcher and the research participant. We discern cultural humility from similar concepts, specifically cultural competence and reflexivity. We will also explore ways to cultivate cultural humility in the context of human subjects research. Mindfulness is one approach that can be helpful in enhancing awareness of self and others in this process. With a foundation in cultural humility, nurse researchers and other investigators can implement meaningful and ethical projects to better address health disparities. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.