Improving cultural competence in medical curricula of Algarve University to reduce health disparities

Abstract

Abstract The increasing diversity of the Portuguese population and the globalization of health care require advance practice physicians to be culturally competent. Greater appreciation exists for the impact of culture on health care: health seeking behaviors are affected by cultural mores. The field of 'cultural competence' has emerged as one strategy to address these disparities. The Integrated Master of Medicine at the University of Algarve realized that the development of culturally responsive clinical skills is vital to the effectiveness of behavioral health services. To achieve this realization, Cultural Competence Seminars were included as obligatory course in medical curricula, since 2017. Although some cultural competence topics were addressed at different moments of master, in PBL approach and electives. The seminars offered in Year 6 were structured in 3-h interactive lectures per week covering the following topics: gipsy ethnicity, vulnerable groups, Jehovah's Witnesses, Islamic Culture and Ethics in different cultural contexts. These thematic areas were taught by social scientists and interested “experts” or inviting personal testimonys. The learning objectives are related to knowledge-based that focus on information, such as definitions about culture and related concepts; attitudes that seeks to improve provider awareness of the impact of socio-cultural factors on patients' values and behaviors and skills that focus on learning communication regarding the context. The integration of seminars in the medical curricula has been a successful project as it has been well received by students. Reflecting on the conceptualization and implementation of the cultural competence seminars, there are still some challenges to address. That is, cultural competence needs to be further integrated in the curriculum by incorporating in additional clinical communication and clinical skills sessions. Key messages It is a model that can be applied regardless of the meaning a school of medicine attaches to the notion of cultural competence, and can build on existing strengths within the organization.