An elective course in cultural competence

Abstract

A cultural competence elective was designed to introduce student pharmacists to different cultural characteristics that can influence health care and ultimately improve the student's level of cultural competence. During this 10-week course, class sessions alternated between guest speakers who were recruited to share knowledge about their culture and interactive health screenings with those cultures. The inventory for assessing the process of cultural competence-student version (IAPCC-SV) was used to assess change in students' cultural competence and is a validated questionnaire. IAPCC-SV scores of ≥60 were considered “culturally competent” and scores were compared with the t-test for matched pairs. Results from the IAPCC-SV showed the overall students' self-reported cultural competence was significantly increased with this educational model. When individual constructs of cultural competence were assessed, there was a significant increase in four of the five cultural domains: awareness, desire, knowledge, and encounters. There was no change in the fifth construct (cultural skill). The use of area cultural liaisons and interactive health screenings increased the overall level of cultural competence among student pharmacists at the conclusion of this course.