Collaborative Governance Pathways to Address Health Inequities in Multicultural Communities: A Scoping Review and Framework for Culturally Responsive Public Health Services Delivered by General Practitioners
1
Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
2
Shenzhen Young Physicians Club, Shenzhen, China
3
The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
4
Shenzhen Health Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center, Shenzhen, China
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1394
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Health inequities in multicultural communities stem from cultural barriers, linguistic disparities, and systemic biases. General practitioners (GPs), as frontline primary care providers, often lack the capacity to deliver culturally responsive services (CRS), which exacerbates these inequities—a disparity highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted, analyzing studies published between 2015 and 2025 from the PubMed database. A framework for CRS was developed using principles of community-based participatory research and multisectoral collaboration, and was validated via expert consensus.
RESULTS:
Core components of CRS involve integrating both surface-level adaptations (e.g., translation services) and deep-level adaptations (e.g., understanding cultural health beliefs) while respecting patients' existing health practices. GPs play pivotal roles across three domains: (1) Clinical: Implementing culturally tailored interventions, such as family-involved care. (2) Community: Partnering with cultural brokers and community organizations to build trust and engagement. (3) Policy: Advocating for equitable resource allocation and inclusive health policies. Effective collaborative governance requires targeted training to reduce biases, community empowerment, and data-driven policy development.
CONCLUSIONS:
A "GP-led collaborative ecosystem" that embeds CRS principles is essential for advancing health equity. Key recommendations include: (1) implementing standardized CRS training for GPs; (2) formalizing partnerships between communities and clinics; and (3) integrating cultural brokerage into health policy frameworks.
Health inequities in multicultural communities stem from cultural barriers, linguistic disparities, and systemic biases. General practitioners (GPs), as frontline primary care providers, often lack the capacity to deliver culturally responsive services (CRS), which exacerbates these inequities—a disparity highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted, analyzing studies published between 2015 and 2025 from the PubMed database. A framework for CRS was developed using principles of community-based participatory research and multisectoral collaboration, and was validated via expert consensus.
RESULTS:
Core components of CRS involve integrating both surface-level adaptations (e.g., translation services) and deep-level adaptations (e.g., understanding cultural health beliefs) while respecting patients' existing health practices. GPs play pivotal roles across three domains: (1) Clinical: Implementing culturally tailored interventions, such as family-involved care. (2) Community: Partnering with cultural brokers and community organizations to build trust and engagement. (3) Policy: Advocating for equitable resource allocation and inclusive health policies. Effective collaborative governance requires targeted training to reduce biases, community empowerment, and data-driven policy development.
CONCLUSIONS:
A "GP-led collaborative ecosystem" that embeds CRS principles is essential for advancing health equity. Key recommendations include: (1) implementing standardized CRS training for GPs; (2) formalizing partnerships between communities and clinics; and (3) integrating cultural brokerage into health policy frameworks.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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