self inventory on cultural humility
Cultural safety in healthcare begins with self-reflection. Providers must examine how their own identities, privileges, and biases shape interactions with patients, and how systemic inequities affect trust and care delivery. The following questions are designed to help practitioners move beyond cultural awareness toward cultural humility.
What aspects of my identity (race, gender, language, class, religion) influence how I interact with patients?
How does my cultural background shape my communication style?
What privileges do I hold that may affect how I understand patient experiences?
What implicit biases might I carry into my practice?
When was the last time I recognized and interrupted a stereotype in myself?
How do I handle moments when I realize I’ve made a cultural misstep?
How do I ensure patients feel safe and respected in our interactions?
How do I confirm that a patient understands their treatment plan without making them feel embarrassed?
Have I ever dismissed or minimized a patient’s cultural or spiritual health practices?
What strategies do I use to build trust with patients from marginalized communities?
How might systemic racism or colonization impact how some patients perceive me as a provider?
Do I reflect on how historical trauma may affect Indigenous patients or other racialized groups?
How do I stay current on cultural competence and anti-racism in healthcare?
What resources or practices help me understand the experiences of immigrant, LGBTQ+, or Indigenous patients?
How do I challenge policies or norms in my workplace that may exclude or harm certain cultural groups?
How do I support culturally safe environments for colleagues as well as patients?
How do I respond when a colleague expresses racist or culturally insensitive views?
What does allyship look like in my role?
How do I encourage equity and inclusion in team decisions or discussions?
When cultural practices clash with medical advice, how do I approach the situation?
Have I ever felt uncertain about the ethical implications of a culturally-based request from a patient?
Can I think of a time when a patient felt disrespected culturally? What could I have done differently?
Have I ever witnessed a patient being treated unfairly due to language, ethnicity, or religion?
What was a recent situation where cultural humility helped me improve patient care?
What did I learn from a patient whose cultural background differed greatly from my own?
Have I ever built a strong connection with a patient by being open about what I don’t know culturally?
What do I need to unlearn in order to become a more culturally safe practitioner?
How do I adapt my care when patients face both cultural and socioeconomic barriers?
Do I recognize when my approach may not account for neurodivergence or disability in addition to cultural difference?
How do I ensure that consent is informed and culturally appropriate?
How often do I engage with cultural leaders, Elders, or community organizations to improve my practice?
How do I react when a patient distrusts me because of past harm by the system?
What personal or professional changes am I willing to make to become a more culturally safe provider?
