Assessment of cultural competence levels of healthcare professionals: a study in a university hospital with a health tourism authorisation certificate

This study aims to evaluate the cultural competence levels of healthcare professionals working in a university hospital authorised for health tourism, where patients from different cultures are concentrated. The research concluded that the cultural competence of healthcare professionals showed significant differences according to demographic characteristics, and characteristics related to cultural interest, curiosity, and experience. Cultural sensitivity had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between cultural knowledge and cultural skills. In the context of health tourism, possessing cultural knowledge alone is not sufficient for healthcare professionals to establish effective and trust-based communication with patients from different countries and cultural backgrounds. When this knowledge is combined with cultural sensitivity, it can be transformed into cultural skills, which in turn enhances patient satisfaction and improves the quality of healthcare services. It is crucial to re-evaluate global health service delivery with a knowledge-based approach to culture and to shape the understanding of solutions to existing or potential problems. In terms of achieving cultural competency, in-service training for staff could be a valuable recommendation for hospital management and contributing to the development of health tourism. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.