• Patricia M Davidson, Leila Gholizadeh, Abbas Haghshenas, Arie Rotem, Michelle DiGiacomo, Maurice Eisenbruch, and Yenna Salamonson.
• Curtin University of Technology, Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, Curtin Health Innovation Research Insitute, NSW, Australia. p.davidson@curtin.edu.au
• J Clin Nurs. 2010 May 1; 19 (9-10): 1335-42.

Aims And ObjectivesThis paper describes cultural competence issues within the scientific and scholarly discourse surrounding cardiac rehabilitation (CR).BackgroundCR is an important secondary prevention strategy, improving health-related outcomes and reducing the risks of subsequent cardiovascular events. Internationally, it is widely accepted as a discrete health service model and is endorsed by government and professional bodies. Over past decades, low participation rates in CR remain a concern, particularly among minority groups and culturally and linguistically diverse populations.DesignSystematic review.MethodsSearch of electronic databases.ConclusionsFew studies to date have described cultural competence in CR service design and as a consequence, there are minimal data to assist CR professionals and policy makers in tailoring health service delivery models. The limited scholarly debate and discussion regarding cultural competence in the CR literature limits the development and evaluation of culturally appropriate interventions.Relevance To Clinical PracticeThere needs to be greater attention to the concept of cultural competence, both in practice and research settings, to ensure access to CR for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

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