Cross-cultural assessment and management in primary care.

The increasing number of culturally diverse patients in primary care and the demands to provide culturally sensitive health care make it essential that physicians provide care that is responsive to a culturally diverse population. Physicians must use cross-cultural techniques in their assessment and management practices. The cross-culturally competent physician has the potential to increase his or her ability to provide effective and culturally responsive treatment to a wider spectrum of patients, resulting in more positive treatment outcomes.