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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Gopal Sankaran, MD, DrPH, CHES, Health, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 319 Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center, West Chester, PA 19383, 610 436 3592, gsankaran@wcupa.edu

The United States has long been referred to as the “melting pot,” given the demographic shifts in the population over the last century and efforts to promote diversity. The diversity of races, ethnic groups and languages spoken, the projected growth of minority groups in the near future, and the need to provide “client-centered” health care effectively call for a thorough understanding of different cultures and their influence on health traditions and health seeking behaviors. In fact, all health care providers would be able to serve their clients better if they are cross-culturally competent. This is also vital for realizing the Healthy People 2010 goal of “eliminating all health disparities.”

This session describes a 100-level college course that uses multiple strategies to develop cross-cultural competence among the students. The strategies include comparative analyses of one's own cultural heritage and health traditions with those of persons of different race/ethnicity and gender. Additionally, case scenarios, video discussions, and selected readings help students to learn about different cultures and how best to address their health care needs. The students demonstrate their knowledge and skills through classroom assessments and a group project presentation that highlights the demographic profile, cultural practices, health traditions, and health care needs of the chosen ethnic/racial group and strategies to best address the identified needs. Evaluation methods and assessment rubrics will be shared along with resources to facilitate development of cross-cultural competency.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how culture influences health traditions, health care access and use of health services.
• Discuss what cultural competence is and its utility in providing health care to diverse population groups.
• Specify three strategies for teaching cultural competence to college students.
• Identify three resources to enhance one’s knowledge about cross-cultural issues.

Keywords: Cultural Competency, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation