Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Tailoring: Lessons Learned and Refinements After Two Decades of Incorporating Culture in Health Communication Research

Derek M Griffith; Caroline R Efird; Monica L Baskin; Monica Webb Hooper; Rachel E Davis; Ken Resnicow

doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060722-031158

Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Tailoring: Lessons Learned and Refinements After Two Decades of Incorporating Culture in Health Communication Research

Annu Rev Public Health. 2023 Nov 6. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060722-031158. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Derek M Griffith^{1

2

3}, Caroline R Efird², Monica L Baskin⁴, Monica Webb Hooper⁵, Rachel E Davis⁶, Ken Resnicow⁷

Affiliations

¹ Center for Men's Health Equity, Racial Justice Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; email: derek.griffith@georgetown.edu.
² Racial Justice Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
³ Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Health, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
⁴ Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine; and Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁵ National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
⁶ Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
⁷ Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health; and Community Outreach and Health Disparities Research, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

PMID: 37931182
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060722-031158

Abstract

In this article, we examine progress and challenges in designing, implementing, and evaluating culturally sensitive behavioral interventions by tailoring health communication to groups or individuals. After defining common tailoring constructs (i.e., culture, race, and ethnicity), cultural sensitivity, and cultural tailoring, we examine when it is useful to culturally tailor and address cultural sensitivity in health communication by group tailoring or individual tailoring and when tailoring health communication may not be necessary or appropriate for achieving behavior change. After reviewing selected approaches to cultural tailoring, we critique the quality of research in this domain with a focus on the internal validity of empirical findings. Then we explore the ways in which cultural sensitivity, group targeting, and individual tailoring have incorporated culture in health promotion and health communication. We conclude by articulating yet unanswered questions and suggesting future directions to move the field forward. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 45 is April 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Publication types

Review