Healthcare workforce Spanish language and cultural competency are vital to better serve the Latino population. To meet this need we have created and pilot tested a CAI-based distance education (DE) intervention called A su salud! (“to your health”). The instructor-led program uses a health/drama on DVD, web, workbook, and phone support. Over 1-month, 29 health care students and current providers with intermediate Spanish skills started a DE pilot; 22 completed the program. 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 (61.25)	Vocabulary (24)	Grammar (22)	Oral Comprehension (10)	Speaking ability (5.25)
Pre	32.9±11.8	19.5±7.4	7.1±3.4	5.9±2.9	3.4±1.1
Post	46.8±8.7*	25.4±4.1*	14.6±4.9*	6.9+1.6	3.8±1.0*

* indicates statistically significant changes in test scores

The retrospective pre/post test indicated that participants perceived their skills to significantly improve along 10 domains (topics include ability to: give directives in Spanish, speak in Spanish, understand Latino patients, interpret responses and elucidate critical information, identify when to call for an interpreter). 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. Our efforts continue to create an extensive 2-semester long DE program.