Tackling health inequalities in UK Physiotherapy: Why cultural competence matters.

May, Pauline, Connell, Louise, Middlebrook, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2154-5723 and Yeowell, Gillian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3872-9799 (2025) Tackling health inequalities in UK Physiotherapy: Why cultural competence matters. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 78. 103343. ISSN 2468-7812

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Abstract

Health inequalities, avoidable, unjust differences in health outcomes, are driven by intersecting social and economic factors, including ethnicity and disability. While the NHS promotes patient-centred care as a strategy to reduce these disparities , the distinct role of cultural competence is often under-explored. Cultural competence goes beyond tailoring care to individual preferences; it requires healthcare professionals to acknowledge systemic bias, reflect on their own cultural identity, and adapt practice in ways that address diversity and discrimination. This paper differentiates cultural competence from patient-centred care and argues that without explicit attention to culture, equity-oriented care risks falling short. It also highlights the lack of UK-based research in this area and calls for systematic investigation into how cultural competence is understood, practiced, and evaluated across UK physiotherapy settings.