Abstract PO-030: Working with Micronesian communities: A cultural competency training for healthcare professionals

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the creation of a cultural competency training intended for healthcare professionals working with Hawaii’s Micronesian populations. Cultural competency training for health professionals has gained importance because it builds a better understanding of the social and cultural influences on patient’s health, and can work to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care. A cultural competency training was created through input from Hawaii’s Micronesian community members and the healthcare providers that serve this community to improve interactions and the delivery healthcare. This training will provide healthcare professionals with cultural information and techniques for improving interactions with Micronesian patients. This training will be pilot-tested with University of Hawaii Cancer Center faculty and staff. Five local health clinics and practices will be offered this training through a web-based training format. The training also provides healthcare professionals with three continuing medical education credits. Initial delivery of the training was intended for in-person format; however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing regulations, a virtual format had to be adopted. Healthcare providers will be provided pre-training resources, a pre and posttest, as well as a six-month follow-up survey to assess attainment of the training objectives. Objectives for the trainings include: to understand medical professionals’ cultures and values, to promote understanding of other communities’ cultures and values, to understand how cultural values and beliefs impact treatment and interaction among healthcare professionals, to identify challenges and learn culturally appropriate strategies to address them and, to bridge the gap between Micronesian and Western understandings of healthcare and healing. Citation Format: Mark L. Willingham, Jr., Kevin Cassel. Working with Micronesian communities: A cultural competency training for healthcare professionals [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-030.