Knowledge of cultural competence among third-year medical students.
An increasingly diverse population and ongoing health disparities have brought national attention to cultural competence training in medical schools. However, few data exist on medical students' knowledge in cultural competence. The purpose of this study is to assess medical students' knowledge in cultural competence to identify training areas for curriculum development. All third-year medical students at a single institution during the period of November 2001 to February 2004 completed a questionnaire to assess their knowledge of cultural competence during their medicine clerkship. The 40-item questionnaire measured several domains of cultural competence: health disparities, stereotyping, exploring culture, perceptions of health and illness, and communication/language. The mean knowledge score was 55%, and no student scored >80%. Race and prior cultural training were not predictors of overall performance.
Bussey-Jones
Jada
J
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. jcbusse@emory.edu
Genao
Inginia
I
St George
Diane Marie
DM
Corbie-Smith
Giselle
G
D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States