Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111534

Gwendolyn Graddy-Dansby, MD¹, Michele Heisler, MD, MPA², Veronica Hawkins Williams, MPH¹, Michael Anderson³, and Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD⁴. (1) Institute on Multicultural Health, Henry Ford Health System, 1 Ford Place, Suite 3E, Detroit, MI 48202, (313) 874-1890, ggraddy1@hfhs.org, (2) University of Michigan, 2515 Fuller Street, 11H, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, (3) Community Health & Social Services Center, Inc., REACH Detroit Partnership, 1 Ford Place, Suite 1B, Detroit, MI 48202, (4) Michigan Surgeon General, Michigan Department of Community Health, PO Box 30195, Lansing, MI 48909

Continuing medical education (CME) courses were conducted to improve provider knowledge of communities served by the REACH Detroit Partnership, a community-based research project implemented to reduce disparities in diabetes among African Americans and Latinos. Providers enrolled from three health care systems were invited to attend CMEs held at a general location and health care system medical clinics. Courses included discussions on concepts of cultural competence, preliminary intervention results, trends in diabetes care, and case studies presented by REACH Detroit's trained community-based Family Health Advocates (FHAs). Nineteen providers were invited to attend the first two CMEs. Fifty-eight percent of providers attended the first course. The average ranking of lecture content was 3.80 (5.00=outstanding). Strong points included defining and increasing provider understanding of cultural competence and providing feedback on patient evaluations of their providers and achieved outcomes through REACH. Suggestions included increased dissemination of resources on culturally competent care and introducing formal activities to hear feedback from and discuss issues with patients. Thirty-two percent of providers attended the second course. The average ranking of content was 4.48. Strong points included providing discussions on case studies presented by the FHAs and having an interactive forum. Suggestions included a heightened focus on provider, patient, and FHA communications and increased exploration of challenges providers face in providing care. Results indicate interactive CMEs held at providers' medical clinics are preferred. Courses should include actual case studies and feedback from patients, provide resources on culturally competent care, and explore challenges providers face in providing quality patient care.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Define subject matter to present to providers participating in continuing medical education (CME) courses on cultural competency;
• Discuss CME evaluation findings, including recommendations for future courses on cultural competency for providers

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Cultural Competency

Related Web page: www.reachdetroit.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.