Beginning with the End in Mind: Evaluating Outcomes of Cultural Competence Instruction in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Programme

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Abstract

The education of physical therapists must prepare them for autonomous practice providing culturally appropriate care. Models are available to guide curricular changes for cultural competence but little is available on methods to assess the outcomes. This article describes two methods to measure outcomes of cultural competence instruction in physical therapy education. These methods are the integrated standardised patient examination (ISPE) and a refugee screening program. These outcomes will determine how cultural curricular changes will drive student learning. A refugee screening programme allows students to practice culturally appropriate care and measures outcomes of the cultural curriculum. Students meet with recent refugees while using a translator to obtain a health history and complete a systems review. Students discuss the results of their screening and make recommendations to the refugee and the primary physician. Students complete a debriefing questionnaire about the experience and their academic preparation.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What is the impact of cultural competence training among health and mental health providers?

Evidence about the impact of cultural competence training on client health and mental health outcomes is generally inconclusive. Five systematic reviews, including one review of reviews, all published within the past ten years, concur that existing studies lack adequate methodological rigor to draw conclusions about the impact of cultural competence training and programming. Additionally, existing […]

About this study

AGE: Adults

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Positive impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Paid

GENDER: All

HOST COUNTRY: United States

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High Income

INTERVENTION DURATION: Not specified

INTERVENTION: Cultural competence training

OUTCOME AREA: Cultural Competence

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Multiple Regions

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2009

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