Effectiveness of cultural competency interventions to improve healthcare provider behaviour and care for ethnic minority patients– a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Cultural Competency Interventions (CCIs) for healthcare providers are employed to promote equitable healthcare for ethnic minority population(s). This systematic review assesses the effect of CCIs in modifying providers’ behaviour, their impact on patient outcomes, and the Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) employed using BCT-Taxonomy. Databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched up to December 2025 with no language restrictions for all studies of CCIs where change in provider behaviour was the main outcome. Of 8,405 records identified, 158 full texts were reviewed, and 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen studies reported a positive effect on the providers’ behaviour. ‘Feedback on behaviour’, ‘Information about social and environmental consequences’, and ‘Framing or reframing’ were the BCTs most frequently deployed in the most effective interventions. The review indicated positive behavioural changes in providers following CCI. However, the field lacks studies where provider behaviour was measured objectively along with measurement of patient outcomes.