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Article: Cross-Cultural Communication, Competence
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Public Health
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION, COMPETENCE
Almost all American public health professionals work with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds and communication styles. Developing and refining one's skills for communicating effectively with people different from one's self is a process that requires trust, awareness, sensitivity, respect, and honesty. The public health professional may be very proficient when working with one culture (i.e., "cross cultural"), yet inadvertently insult another. Competence is not a state but a constantly evolving process of adaptation and refinement.
The lack of cultural and geographic relevance in public health materials and programs may result in ...