Improving health among culturally diverse subgroups: an exploration of trade-offs and viewpoints among a regional population health workforce

Issues addressed This article addresses availability and implications of evidence about culturally diverse subgroups in population. Objectives To determine implications of evidence about culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities for decision-makers and practitioners in population health. Methods Self-administered questionnaire of a regional population health workforce. One hundred and four population health staff of the Division of Population Health in South Western Sydney Area Health Service (SWSAHS) were invited to participate (response rate 73%). Results The majority of respondents were positive about applying culturally appropriate approaches in population health practice in south-western Sydney, a region well known for its cultural diversity. Respondents' levels of uncertainty increased when considering more strident statements, for example deciding exactly what to do when evidence generalisable to specific CALD communities was limited. Conclusions Culturally appropriate approaches to population health are needed. As there is uncertainty in the workforce about how to deal with the paucity of ethno-specific evidence, a concerted effort is needed to study population-based interventions in order to increase the evidence base. So what? To improve health outcomes in CALD communities, sustained research is recommended to study not only needs but also availability, access and effectiveness of culturally specific initiatives. Explicit methods and rewards also are needed to better support the application in practice of evidence that is already sufficient about ethnicity and population health services.