Mini-immersion in medical Spanish for family practice residents.
BACKGROUND
Residency programs vary widely in types of training to increase cultural competency and sensitivity. Moreover, few empirical studies exist regarding effectiveness of these experiences. The purpose of our study was to offer and evaluate a linguistic mini-immersion, !Español Rápido!, required of 8 new family practice interns during their orientation month at the University of North Carolina.


METHODS
The curriculum was based on accelerative learning, a pedagogy that considers all parts of the brain, the paraconscious, and the role of the emotions.


RESULTS
Pretests and posttests and a postimmersion and 6-month follow-up evaluation indicated that the mini-immersion was successful. A simple t test for paired samples showed a significant improvement in interns' comprehension after the 6-day immersion, t(7)=11.399, p<.000.


CONCLUSIONS
This brief experience should be viewed only as a first step in a long-term plan for a comprehensive curriculum to prepare family practice residents as culturally competent practitioners.
York Frasier
Pamela
P
Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7595, USA. pfrasier@med.unc.edu
Dávalos
Diane
D
Nusbaum
Margaret R H
MR
Skinner
Bron
B
D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007802:Language; D009657:North Carolina; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013997:Time Factors