°A su salud! (to your health) is a computer-based Spanish language instructional course designed to be used in a distance education setting for healthcare workers and students working to improve their health Spanish language skills. The instructor-led program uses a health/drama on DVD, web, workbook, and phone support. The course was piloted over a 2-month time period with 30 completing participants to determine its effectiveness in improving health Spanish language skills. Participants were pre-and post tested for vocabulary, grammar, oral comprehension and Spanish speaking skills, as well as a retrospective pre/post-test to assess self-perception of skills.  Although language skills are generally not expected to improve over such a short time period, we found statistically significant improvements in skills in every category except oral comprehension.

 

Test time (possible score)	Overall (68)	Vocabulary (30)	Grammar (28)	Oral Comprehension (10)	Speaking ability (5.25)
Pre	45.66	20.69	17.14	7.83	3.09
Post	52.3	27.4	21*	6.53	3.93*

* indicates statistically significant changes in test scores The retrospective pre/post test indicated that participants perceived their skills to significantly improve along 5 domains (topics include ability to: speak in Spanish, communicate health-related information, understand Latino patients, understand one’s own cultural assumptions, and assessing pain level). From this brief pilot assessment we conclude that CAI- DE approaches such as °A su salud! can provide effective strategies for improving Spanish language and cultural competency of health care providers and healthcare students. Our efforts continue to create an extensive 2-semester long DE program.