Cultural Competence in Health Care (PDF)

Wen-Shing Tseng, MD, is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine. He was born in Taiwan in 1935 and was trained in psychiatry at the National Taiwan University of Taipei and later at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center of Harvard Medical School in Boston. He was a research fellow in culture and mental health at the East-West Center from 1970-1971, before he was recruited as a faculty member of the University of Hawaii School of Medicine, where he became a professor in 1976 and has served as training director for the psychiatric residency training program between 1975-1982. Dr. Tseng is a consultant to the World Health Organization and served as chairman of the Transcultural Psychiatry Section of the World Psychiatric Association for two terms from 1983-1993. He has edited, co-edited and authored over a dozen books dealing with psychiatry, psychotherapy, and cultural psychiatry.

Jon Streltzer, MD, is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine where he was a training director from 1982-1996. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and is board certified in general psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and pain management. He has been Chair of the Chronic Pain Task Force of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and is a member of the Pain Medicine Board Examination Committee of the American Board of Anesthesiologists. He has been on the editorial board of the International Journal of Psychiatry and Medicine and is a reviewer for several journals. Dr. Streltzer is widely published in the areas of psychosomatic medicine, pain, and cultural psychiatry.

From the reviews:

"This book focuses on educating healthcare professionals on the complex issues surrounding the delivery of culturally competent care. It moves from basic definitions to clear applicable examples, helping readers to become more accomplished in this area. … is written for students in medicine, nursing, social work, clinical psychology, and other healthcare disciplines. It is designed to be an aid for practicing physicians and healthcare professionals. … This is a wonderful addition to the literature, providing much needed instruction in the area of cultural competence." (Kathleen M. Woodruff, Doody’s Review Service, July, 2008)

"A comprehensive 2-authored educational text that provides a guide for professionals on developing cultural competence in health care by emphasizing cultural implications of various interactions in the health care setting. ... Recommended Readership: Medical students, physicians of various specialties in training and active practice, nurses, and allied health care personnel." (Ramona DeJesus, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Vol. 83 (11), November, 2008)