Purpose: To determine if a cross-cultural objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) can measure the attainment of cultural competency skills in medical students. Design: A sample of forty medical students in the medicine clerkship. Methods: Forty students participated in a cultural competency curriculum. Students self-rated their level of cultural competency, attitudes, and linguistic skills by mailed questionnaire. All students were administered a written exam and a cross-cultural OSCE. Twenty were randomized to the cross-cultural curriculum and twenty received the standard curriculum. Upon completion of the clerkship all students were re-tested with the same instruments. Results: The questionnaire revealed students did not feel competent nor satisfied with their knowledge. Pre-curriculum mean scores for the written examination and OSCE were 60 and 40, respectively, for all students. Post-curriculum mean scores for the written examination and OSCE were 69 and 84.23 for the new curriculum group and 56 and 34.56 for the standard curriculum group. Students in the cross-cultural curriculum felt more competent, confident, and satisfied with their cultural competency knowledge. All students maintained a high level of interest in cultural competency. Conclusion: With new accreditation standards medical schools are faced with the challenge of implementing cross-cultural curricula. This curriculum proved effective in increasing the cultural competency of students by promoting knowledge and skills needed to work with patients in a culturally diverse environment. The OSCE, already used to assess medical students clinical skills, may be useful in measuring the attainment of cultural competency skills.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1. Recognize the need for an evaluation tool for cultural competency. 2. Discuss a cross-cultural objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) as an evaluation tool to assess medical students cultural competency skills. 3. Develop a regional-specific cross-cultural curriculum to improve cultural competency skills.
Keywords: Education, Cultural Competency
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.