Update: The Purnell Theory and Model for Culturally Competent Health Care.

The Purnell model and theory were created in 1998 and received input for clarity and parsimonious assumptions from several faculty at the University of Delaware. Initially, they were used in education and clinical practice settings to develop them further and to determine their usefulness in those settings. Since that time, changes have been made with additional assumptions, variant characteristics of culture, and an extensive assessment guide that can be used by all health professionals.